$653,786Average Value$386Average Price per Sq Ft6Homes For Sale
Historic Durham community between Duke University and Ninth Street
Old West Durham is one of Durham’s oldest neighborhoods, with lifestyles of the 19th century centered around quiet farming, rowdy tobacco trading and the constant hum of the cotton mill. As Durham’s economic development changed with the growth of Duke University, the neighborhood has remained at the heart of the action, situated 3 miles west of Durham’s city center. Today, Old West Durham lies directly across from Duke University Hospital, a highly esteemed teaching hospital and trauma center, specializing in pediatric care and cardiology, among other disciplines. The neighborhood borders Duke University’s East and Main campuses; Duke is a private research institution known for its academic rigor, neogothic architecture and nationally ranked basketball team. “A lot of Duke students and employees live in the neighborhood or nearby,” says Miles Honeycutt, who builds and sells homes in the neighborhood as the owner of Longleaf Building & Restoration and Longleaf Realty. “Old West Durham’s biggest perks are walkability to urban amenities and Duke.” Homeowners can also bike to Ninth Street’s locally owned shops and restaurants or to the LGBTQ Center of Durham. Homes in the neighborhood range widely, from early 20th century cottages to contemporary new builds. “There have been no major changes to the housing market lately, just a slow uptick over the last 20 years,” Honeycutt says.
There is a lot to experience in the Old West Durham neighborhood including a variety of restaurants and shops.
You can find many houses of worship within the Old West Durham neighborhood.
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The restaurants and retailers of Ninth Street Business District
Ninth Street is lined with locally owned businesses within walking distance of neighborhood homes. The Regulator Bookshop, easily spotted thanks to its red door, is a small local spot with a variety of book genres. Cafés like Cocoa Cinnamon and Monuts supply their customers, many of whom are students, with caffeinated beverages and freshly baked treats. Restaurants serve a variety of international cuisines, from Mediterranean to Japanese. Guasaca South American Grill prepares homemade arepas for guests to enjoy in vibrant indoor and outdoor dining areas. For a more formal brunch and dinner option, Vin Rouge serves gourmet French fare. With Food Lion, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods in the neighborhood, residents have their choice of convenient supermarkets.
Erwin Mill was a textile mill and has been converted to a shopping center and apartments on Ninth Street in the Old West Durham neighborhood.
The shops on 9th Street are a popular destination for Old West Durham families.
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Diverse architectural styles of Old West Durham
Old West Durham’s gridded streets are lined with sidewalks, power lines and compact yards with leafy trees. The neighborhood association is active, with plans to create a new pocket garden and improve infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. The residential landscape is a combination of 21st century contemporary builds and early-to-mid-20th century bungalows, with some Craftsman cottages, Colonial Revivals, duplexes and apartment complexes. Prices range from about $375,000 to $1.2 million, depending on size and age. Multifamily homes cost between about $375,000 and $565,000. Between the homes and apartment complexes, over three-quarters of residents rent.
Public and private schools in Durham
Students living in Old West Durham are zoned for Durham Public Schools, which Niche rates B-plus overall. E. K. Powe Elementary, rated B, is located in the neighborhood. Students may advance to Brogden Middle, rated C, and Riverside High, rated B-plus. Riverside High participates in the nationwide Project Lead the Way initiative devoted to STEM; students enrolled in Pathway to Engineering courses may earn college credit. Alternatively, Camelot Academy, rated A-plus, is a private option for kindergarteners through seniors.
E.K. Powe Elementary School receives and overall grade of B from Niche.
Brogden Middle School serves nearly 700 students in the Raleigh, NC area.
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Proximity to Duke University’s botanical garden and rec center
Residents can walk to Sarah P. Duke Gardens to explore Duke University’s 55-acre botanical landscape. Trails spanning 5 miles wind past bright pink tulips and purple irises, a koi pond and decorative water fountains. Construction on the new Garden Gateway entrance is ongoing through spring of 2026, which means the parking lots, visitor center and main entrance are closed. However, the gardens remain open daily, and regularly host programming for all ages, like botany lectures and storytimes in English and Spanish. Students, faculty and others affiliated with Duke can use Brodie Recreation Center on East Campus; memberships grant access to the rec center’s gym, saunas, basketball courts and other facilities. Just north of the neighborhood, Hillandale Golf Course is a public, 18-hole course that hosts community events and tournaments throughout the year and offers junior instruction.
Navigating the city of Durham
Durham Freeway is the neighborhood’s southern border, which cuts across the city and connects drivers to Interstate 85. Three miles east down Main Street, Durham’s city center is home to bars, The Carolina Theatre and the Durham Train Station. GoDurham buses, which are free for youth and college students, take passengers to the Durham Train Station, Duke Hospital, Main Campus and East Campus. Air travel at Raleigh-Durham International Airport is 16 miles away.
Notes on noise, safety and weather in Old West Durham
Within Old West Durham, it can get loud along the main roads, railroad tracks and commercial areas. The neighborhood’s overall CAP Index Crime Score is 5 out of 10, slightly higher than the national average of 4, while theft-related crime scores peak at 8. Additionally, summers in Durham are typically hot and humid.
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.
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On average, homes in Old West Durham, Durham sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Old West Durham, Durham over the last 12 months is $545,000, down 15% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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