Among the downtown Durham neighborhoods, Duke Park is one of the oldest, with many homes built around the 1950s with classic designs. Residents here have easy access to City Center ’s diverse dining scene and jobs at hubs like Duke University and Duke Regional Hospital. You’re also moments from the Duke Park green space and a biking trail that connects to areas across Durham.
Duke Park is one of the older neighborhoods in Durham, and the area’s age shows in its range of housing styles. “The housing stock in Duke Park is desirable,” says Brooks Brittingham, a broker and Realtor on the Cornerstone Realty Team with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “What a lot of folks are looking for in these downtown areas is a house with character and charm, so the homes in Duke Park are 1950s, approximately. It varies a little bit.”
Craftsman homes ready for renovations can sell in the upper $100,000s to upper $400,000s, while many Cape Cods sell in the mid-$500,000s to upper $700,000s. The most expensive are historic homes that have been preserved and new construction, all of which range from the low $900,000s to around $1.5 million. Because the homes tend to be older, you’ll notice more paved driveways instead of attached garages and steps that lead to the front doors.
The area is called Duke Park, but the neighborhood’s public green space is also called Duke Park. “There’s a lot to do there,” Brittingham says. “People like to go walk, or run, or take their kids to play. There’s a big playground. The actual park in Duke Park is one of the big draws.” You can also hop on the Ellerbee Creek Trail to bike to more parks in Durham. Following the trail, you might visit the:
The community is in the heart of Durham, which means residents have easy access to major hubs. “Of course, there’s proximity to our big employers, which would be Duke, and then there’s a variety of companies in the downtown areas,” Brittingham says. “Duke is our biggest employer, on both the medical and the university side. And so, a lot of times, it’s people who want that easy access to Duke, but also a house, a neighborhood, with charm and character and access to downtown amenities.”
Interstate 85 creates the neighborhood’s northern border and connects to Interstate 885, which leads to the Research Triangle Park. The RTP hosts hundreds of top companies, such as IBM and Fidelity Investments. Biking is a popular way to get around, with the Ellerbee Creek Trail and dedicated bike lanes lining Washington Street. GoDurham buses are another option, picking up passengers from stops along North Roxboro Road and Avondale Drive before heading downtown. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport is roughly 15 miles away.
Duke Park is part of the highly rated Durham Public Schools district. Kids are zoned for nearby public schools like Club Boulevard Elementary, but the district also offers a lottery system for admission to charter and magnet schools, like Durham School of the Arts. As Brittingham points out, the neighborhood is close to Duke, which is one of the top private colleges in the nation.
Center City is full of popular restaurants, bars and breweries, and you’re minutes away from all the action. There are plenty of places to try, but some of the standouts are the:
Laura Burlage
BURLAGE REALTY LLC
(844) 544-0790
57 Total Sales
1 in Duke Park
$187,500 Price
Taralyn Farrell
Coldwell Banker Advantage
(866) 515-6914
123 Total Sales
1 in Duke Park
$470,000 Price
Susan Hertz
Berkshire Hathaway HomeService
(984) 205-6587
79 Total Sales
1 in Duke Park
$783,000 Price
Sandy Savage
Carolina One Realty
(984) 214-8720
139 Total Sales
1 in Duke Park
$410,000 Price
Johnny Chappell
Compass -- Raleigh
(984) 276-2674
889 Total Sales
1 in Duke Park
$551,000 Price
Brooks Brittingham
Berkshire Hathaway HomeService
(888) 276-0488
77 Total Sales
2 in Duke Park
$400K - $892K Price Range
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Duke Park | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 3 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Duke Park, Durham sell after 51 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Duke Park, Durham over the last 12 months is $612,500, up 34% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Bike Score®
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Local Logic measures the walkability, access to public transit and bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
Established and historic neighborhood moments from downtown Durham
Historic district near downtown Durham, offering walkable, urban living
Community-focused neighborhood home to Durham’s Hidden Dinosaur
Historic neighborhood between downtown and Duke University’s East Campus
