What makes South Durham a community with wide appeal
If you want to live near Research Triangle Park, you can’t get much closer than South Durham. This growing suburb wraps around RTP, putting hundreds of top employers just minutes from your doorstep. It also offers quick access to Chapel Hill, Duke University, Jordan Lake and popular shopping and dining spots. Housing varies from vintage homes with character to brand-new townhouses and condos, and families have a mix of school options.
A mix of home styles from split-levels to custom luxury builds
The various subdivisions of South Durham offer a wide range of home styles. Parkwood is known for its midcentury ranch-style and split-level homes, some of which surround Parkwood Lake. Colonial Revivals from the 1980s and 1990s draw buyers to Ashley Forest, and early 2000s New Traditional homes fill Audubon Park. If you’re looking for luxury, the custom builds dotting Colvard Farms usually rest on large lots of half an acre or more and feature bonus spaces like home theaters and guest suites. There are also townhouses and condos that offer community amenities like pools and fitness centers.
South Durham home prices range from entry-level to luxury
The median sale price here is around $470,000, slightly above Durham ’s median. Here’s how prices break down by home type:
Condos start in the mid-$300,00s and can reach the lower $500,000s.
Townhouses start in the lower $200,000s and can reach the lower $800,000s.
Most detached homes range from the mid-$200,000s to the upper $900,000s.
But luxury properties start around $1 million and can exceed $2.7 million.
“When you're in Southwest Durham, you’re adjacent to UNC but outside Chapel Hill, which means lower taxes and a little bit of a different feel,” says Michael Hugelmeyer, a Realtor with Keller Williams United. “So, folks who don’t want to live in Chapel Hill but want access to it, this is where they’re going.” You’ll find similar prices in North Durham, much higher prices downtown in City Center and lower prices in nearby Southpoint and Woodcroft. Buyers should note that some subdivisions, such as Parkwood, have HOAs, with monthly fees ranging from about $20 to more than $260.
School options include traditional, magnet and charter options
Two highly rated school districts serve South Durham families: Durham Public Schools and Chatham County Schools. Durham Public Schools students can attend their neighborhood schools, such as Parkwood Elementary School, Lowes Grove Middle School and Hillside High School or apply to a magnet program through the district’s annual Application Schools Lottery. Chatham County Schools students can also apply to one of the district’s magnet or choice schools or attend their assigned schools, which include North Chatham Elementary School, Margaret B. Pollard Middle School and Seaforth High School. Families also have charter and private options nearby, including Southpoint Academy and Research Triangle Charter Academy.
Commute times from South Durham to RTP, Duke and UNC at Chapel Hill
Depending on where you live within the community, you’re a short drive to major commuter routes, such as Interstates 40 and 885 and state Route 54. Common destinations include:
Research Triangle Park, which is less than 10 miles from most homes (or 10 to 15 minutes)
Duke University, which is within 15 miles of most homes (or 15 to 25 minutes)
UNC-Chapel Hill, which is also within 15 miles of most homes (or 20 to 40 minutes)
When you need to catch a flight, Raleigh-Durham International Airport is at most about 12 miles away. No matter your destination, you’ll need to keep traffic in mind. “It’s worse than it’s ever been. Southwest Durham is filled with traffic. Rush hour is usually about an hour or an hour and a half,” Hugelmeyer says. “But without traffic, everything is about 20 minutes away.”
Shopping and dining options abound in South Durham
South Durham residents have many amenities within reach. Name-brand and department stores fill The Streets at Southpoint, a popular mall where you can cap off a day of shopping with dinner and a movie. Several shopping centers surround the mall, offering national retailers, such as Target and Ulta Beauty. There are also plenty of grocery stores, including Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Publix and Sprouts Farmers Market. Local restaurants range from Brigs Restaurant, a favorite for breakfast, to Thai 55. You can also try the latest restaurant concepts at Boxyard RTP, a restaurant and retail innovation hub within Research Triangle Park. Plus, downtown Durham is 16 miles away at most. “You can go in and eat at restaurants, see off-Broadway shows that come through. There’s a lot of [live] music and the Durham Bulls,” Hugelmeyer says.
From boating on Jordan Lake to playdates at public parks
It’s easy to enjoy the outdoors at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, where you can do a variety of activities from boating and fishing to hiking and camping. “It’s a great place for recreation. A lot of people go there to hang out on the beach,” says Hugelmeyer, who adds that “You're on the doorstep to UNC there, which has the botanical gardens and the Finley Golf Club.” Closer to home, you can bike or run along the American Tobacco Trail, which runs more than 22 miles from Durham to Apex, or visit public parks like C.M. Herndon Park, which features a playground and several ballfields.
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
Are you familiar with the South Durham neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
South Durham
US
Homicide
2
4
Sexual Assault
3
4
Assault with Weapon
3
4
Robbery
3
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
3
4
Crime Score
3
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
South Durham Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Durham, Durham sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in South Durham, Durham over the last 12 months is $475,000, down 8% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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