Walltown is one of west Durham's historic neighborhoods, right next to Trinity Park and Old West Durham. The area has a diverse community and streets lined with sidewalks that make it easy to walk or bike to Duke University’s East Campus or nearby retail. Many students and university employees live here for the convenience, rental options and small-town feel.
Walltown is full of cottages and bungalows set on gridded streets lined with paved sidewalks. “The neighborhood has a fairly large amount of rentals there, which is good, because there’s a ton of grad students renting them, so it works out well that way,” says Tim Hock, Realtor and owner of Tim Hock Properties. “The architectural style, there you’re going to mostly find single-family homes from either the ‘20s, ‘30s and ‘40s or something built in the last 5 years.” Many of these homes have been renovated, and some have been torn down and replaced with new construction. Older properties sell in the upper $200,000s to $400,000s, but newer builds tend to sell in the lower $500,000s to upper $700,000s. The area has many rental properties, from condo units in multifamily properties to apartment buildings like Forest Pointe. Many students find their homes here because of the rental options close to campus.
Hock points out that Walltown is centered on accessibility. “It’s a very leafy neighborhood,” Hock says. “There are big trees everywhere. You have your wide streets with sidewalks on both sides, so it gives you the feeling of being in an older town. ... Because it’s so close to Duke, there’s obviously restaurants and coffee shops. You can walk to the Whole Foods. You have better access to weekly shopping.” Nearby Ninth Street is a destination for shopping, from daily needs at Whole Foods to unique finds at Manifest Skate Shop and the Regulator Bookshop. You can walk to a wide variety of restaurants, including:
The Walltown Park Recreation Center is a landmark in the community. It was originally built by Walltown residents in the 1950s. Some of the original stones were used when the building was reconstructed in 2011. It continues to be a destination for exercise and youth programs. Walltown Park shares a parking lot with the recreation center, but the area is closed off while the county performs soil testing.
In the meantime, you can visit nearby green spaces like:
Cyclists can use bike-friendly West Knox Street to connect to the South Ellerbe Creek Trail for a scenic ride into City Center. GoDurham buses stop along West Club Boulevard, but residents often walk to East Campus, parks and shops. Interstate 85 is nearby, and the Durham Freeway extends to Raleigh and the Raleigh Durham International Airport, about 30 minutes away with easy traffic. Research Triangle Park, a hub of tech industry jobs, is roughly a 12-mile commute.
Northgate Mall was one of Durham’s major shopping destinations in Walltown that closed in 2020. The mall’s owners have been planning to redevelop the site since then, and Walltown residents have given their ideas for future plans, requesting affordable housing, a resource center and transportation hub. The most recent plans from the developers include demolishing most of the existing structure to make room for new retail buildings. Since the formation of Walltown, residents have voiced their opinions on what is best for their community and continue to do so as more plans for the Northgate Mall site are released.
The area is part of the highly rated Durham Public Schools district. Kids often attend schools like E.K. Powe Elementary or Riverside High, which also have high ratings. Nearby Duke University is one of North Carolina’s top private colleges and is known for its research hospital. Its East Campus, site of the Department of Music and multiple residential halls, is south of Walltown.
Nicholas Yarrington
Grow Local Realty, LLC
(910) 684-3156
485 Total Sales
1 in Walltown
$180,000 Price
Warren Hall
Choice Residential Real Estate
(888) 716-3071
183 Total Sales
1 in Walltown
$439,000 Price
Mary Hunter
Urban Durham Realty
(984) 204-6517
150 Total Sales
1 in Walltown
$1,000,000 Price
Monica Foley
Foley Properties & Estates Co.
(888) 612-8474
60 Total Sales
2 in Walltown
$635K - $720K Price Range
Kim Hunt
RE/MAX United
(833) 313-3819
13 Total Sales
1 in Walltown
$580,000 Price
Marinus Leach
APERTURE LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE
(844) 699-1989
99 Total Sales
1 in Walltown
$285,000 Price
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Walltown | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 4 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 4 | 4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 4 |
| Burglary | 5 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Walltown, Durham sell after 41 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Walltown, Durham over the last 12 months is $519,000, up 48% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Community-focused neighborhood home to Durham’s Hidden Dinosaur
Historic neighborhood between downtown and Duke University’s East Campus
Historic district near downtown Durham, offering walkable, urban living
Established and historic neighborhood moments from downtown Durham
Historic area north of Duke's campus with a golf course and interstate access