$747,684Average Value$375Average Price per Sq Ft12Homes For Sale
Forest Hills offers historic charm and diverse dining near downtown
Forest Hills is a quiet neighborhood just south of downtown Durham, where winding streets and towering trees contrast with the energy of the City Center. Developed in the 1920s as one of the area's first suburbs, the community is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival homes. A large central park and access to a regional trail system provide everyday outdoor recreation without leaving the neighborhood. The proximity to downtown is a plus, but there are also popular shops and restaurants even closer, giving you plenty of options for a night out in the area.
Forest Hills' namesake green space remains a big draw, and new residents here are welcomed into a connected community.
Forest Hills Park is a large green space at the center of the neighborhood with plenty of activity.
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What homes cost and look like in Forest Hills
Since Forest Hills is one of the most sought-after parts of Durham, it can be tough to find a home on the market. "There is not a lot of turnover in the housing," says Moe Berry, who has lived here for more than 40 years and is an active member of the Forest Hills Neighborhood Association. "People come and stay. For the last few years, it's been word of mouth. There aren't too many homes that go on the market and sit there." The Colonial and Tudor Revivals are some of the most notable housing styles, but you can also find cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes. While most of the houses are from the early to mid-1900s, there is some new development. The Mary Duke Biddle Estate, known as Pinecrest, is being reimagined as part of a new community of homes. The original 1927 mansion will remain, but the 10-acre estate will feature 44 new Tudor-style houses. Prices in the neighborhood reflect the area's desirability. Houses under 2,000 square feet often range from the upper $200,000s to the lower $600,000s. Larger homes can cost between the upper $600,000s and around $1.6 million.
Forest Hills is known for its collection of classical architecture, with stately Colonial Revivals.
The neighborhood includes early 20th-century bungalows and cottages.
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Barbecue, bakeries and specialty shops in the neighborhood
Forest Hills is close to a variety of popular shops and restaurants, including several that are within walking distance. "A lot of people walk in this neighborhood," Berry says. "There's a path through the park, but people walk on the street. There's not a lot of traffic in the morning." Some nearby spots you can visit include:
Cocoa Cinnamon, a specialty coffee shop known for its coffee, chocolate drinks and churros
Guglhupf, a German bakery and restaurant with a beer garden
The Original Q Shack, a casual Texas-style barbecue joint
Lakewood Shopping Center, a strip mall with a Food Lion and The Scrap Exchange Thrift Store
Compare Foods, a supermarket with a selection of international foods on University Drive
Cocoa Cinnamon, a Latina-owned coffee shop is a great place to grab a sweet treat and coffee in the neighborhood.
Guglhupf serves German dishes and baked goods, in the community.
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Forest Hills has parks, trails and sports courts nearby
Living in Forest Hills gives you several options for getting outside. Forest Hills Park originally had a nine-hole golf course in the 1920s, but now those fairways are wide-open fields for flag football and soccer. Other features of the nearly 46-acre park include a public pool, tennis courts and a playground. The community also has multiple access points on the American Tobacco Trail, a paved multi-use path that stretches for 22 miles through the city and surrounding counties. Lyon Park is just north of Forest Hills and adds more walking paths, basketball courts and a baseball field.
Forest Hills has its own entrance to the American Tobacco Trail.
Forest Hills Park has many amenities, like tennis courts and a swimming pool.
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Students can attend highly rated neighborhood and magnet schools
Students in Forest Hills are served by Durham Public Schools. They are zoned for the highly rated Morehead Montessori Elementary School, a public magnet elementary school that uses multi-age classrooms and student-directed, hands-on learning. "Kids ride their bikes there," Berry says. "It's a good school and a good community. They do a lot of extracurriculars and plays." Students can continue on to Lakewood Montessori Magnet Middle School and Jordan High School, which offers dual enrollment courses through a local community college. Other options include magnet and open-enrollment schools throughout the district, which students must apply to.
Neighborhood students can attend Morehead Montessori Elementary School.
Jordan High School serves students from Forest Hills.
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How residents reach downtown, Duke University and RTP
Forest Hills is a conveniently located neighborhood offering easy access to several destinations around the Triangle. Some ways of getting around include:
Walking or biking downtown, which is about 2 miles on the American Tobacco Trail
Driving to Duke University, roughly 3 miles via Morehead Avenue
Driving to Research Triangle Park, which is approximately 9 miles away on the Durham Freeway
Forest Hills is within walking distance of downtown Durham.
The neighborhood is a roughly 9-mile commute to Research Triangle Park, which hosts hundreds of top companies, including IBM and Lenovo.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Forest Hills
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
7
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
7
4
Larceny
6
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Forest Hills Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Forest Hills, Durham sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 56 days. The median sale price for homes in Forest Hills, Durham over the last 12 months is $690,000, down 3% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Discover a true one-of-one residence in the heart of Durham's historic Forest Hills--a masterclass in modern craftsmanship by Hayes Barton Homes, set for completion in May 2026. Spanning 4,782 square feet, this 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home is quietly positioned on a rare, private lot that delivers a sense of retreat seldom found this close to the city's core. From the moment you arrive, the home
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Tucked into one of Durham's most storied neighborhoods, 1016 Wells Street offers a rare blend of historic charm and thoughtful modern living. Set within the Morehead Hill Historic District, you're just steps from Forest Hills Park and a short stroll to everything downtown Durham has to offer, without giving up the quiet, tree-lined character that makes this street so special. Built circa 1935,
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A Masterpiece of Modern Design Meets Wooded Serenity! Updated with modern design throughout, this gorgeous 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom ranch home sits on a private, park-like 0.61-acre wooded lot directly adjacent to popular Forest Hills/Lakewood/Rockwood neighborhoods. Enjoy this unbeatable location only a few minutes to Guglhupf, downtown Durham's dining, Durham Bulls Stadium, DPAC, American Tobacco
This is your chance! A rare opportunity to build in one of Durham's most sought-after historic neighborhoods. This roughly quarter-acre lot sits right on Wells Street in the Morehead Hill Historic District, offering the same tree-lined charm and character as its surrounding streets, just moments from Forest Hills Park and downtown Durham. According to the Durham Planning Department, the zoning
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