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West Durham

West Durham

$492,077 Average Value
$240 Average Price per Sq Ft
18 Homes For Sale

West Durham offers a quiet place to live close to work

Durham is a busy city and a hub of medical research, so when you want to be in a quieter place close to the action, you can live in West Durham. The neighborhood is surrounded by outdoor recreation, like Duke Forest, routes to jobs and classes at Duke University and popular restaurants. Downtown destinations like the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and Durham Performing Arts Center are about 10 minutes away, so it’s easy to get to work or enjoy a night out.

Single-family homes and townhouses set in subdivisions

Homes in West Durham are often older, but renovated. Since the area has limited space to grow, a developer might tear down an older property to build a new structure. “Durham County, for building purposes, has run out of land on the south side,” says Mike Strayhorn, a Realtor and broker with Long & Foster Real Estate who has been selling homes in the area since 1985. West Durham has townhouses and ranch-style homes that have sold in the upper $100,000s to mid-$400,000s. Cape Cods, Federal-style and Craftsman-inspired homes tend to sell in the mid-$400,000s to lower $900,000s, though some have sold for around $1 million.

“The way the city is laid out, West Durham is pretty central since everything is on that side of town,” says longtime resident Amy Andorfer, broker and owner of the Andorfer Group with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. “So the pricing is higher, since the area’s convenient to Duke – a lot of people here work for Duke, either the university or the hospital.” Home values are lower here than in other nearby neighborhoods, like Watts Hospital-Hillandale and Croasdaile, but they're higher than many of the areas on Durham's eastern side. Andorfer says most of West Durham's subdivisions are HOA-managed, but fees vary.

West Durham is a peaceful and safe neighborhood in Durham, NC.
West Durham is a peaceful and safe neighborhood in Durham, NC.
The West Durham community in Durham, NC, is a rural area that includes agricultural and forest.
The West Durham community in Durham, NC, is a rural area that includes agricultural and forest.
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Residents are moments from some of the highest rated schools

The area is part of the Durham Public Schools district, which is highly rated. Students might attend public schools or nearby private options, like Triangle Day School. There are also Montessori schools and magnet institutions, like Durham School of Technology. Durham is also home to Duke University, one of the top-rated schools in North Carolina. The private university is a hub for the arts and a destination for live entertainment. “A lot of music and dance performances are held at Duke facilities,” Andorfer says. “The American Dance Festival is a huge international event that’s oftentimes held at Duke.”

Forest View Elementary is a public school located in Durham, NC.
Forest View Elementary is a public school located in Durham, NC.
Sherwood Githens Middle located in Durham, NC and serves about 925 students.
Sherwood Githens Middle located in Durham, NC and serves about 925 students.
Jordan High School is ranked 197th within NC.
Jordan High School is ranked 197th within NC.
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Where most people go for work near West Durham

Durham is known for its education opportunities, medical science and research innovation. “Duke has two major hospitals here,” Strayhorn says. “Durham County and the city used to operate their own hospital. For years, the county commissioners wanted to get out of the hospital business. They entered into a 100-year agreement with Duke to take over Durham Regional Hospital. Now it’s called Duke Regional.” You’re usually commuting to campus or offices in the Research Triangle Park. Residents in West Durham live close to major employers, like:

  • Duke University
  • Duke Regional
  • Duke University Hospital
  • Fidelity
  • Cisco
College students who need part-time jobs are a short drive from restaurants and retail stores.

Duke is about 10 minutes away, downtown is 20 minutes

Duke University’s campus and hospital are closer, around 10 minutes away. GoDurham buses make stops along Neal Road and take passengers to campus, but some people rely on their bikes to commute to class. The Durham Freeway creates the northern border of the neighborhood. If you need to reach downtown, you can take the freeway or Interstate 85 for the 7-mile drive that takes less than 20 minutes with easy traffic. It takes about the same amount of time to reach the Raleigh-Durham International Airport and the Research Triangle Park Headquarters.

Highway 501 is the main road in the West Durham neighborhood.
Highway 501 is the main road in the West Durham neighborhood.
You can sit back and enjoy nature in the West Durham neighborhood.
You can sit back and enjoy nature in the West Durham neighborhood.
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West Durham is surrounded by green spaces to explore

One key feature in West Durham is Duke Forest, which covers over 7,000 acres and is full of rolling hills with hardwood oaks and hickory trees. Duke University manages the land and uses it for research, but anyone who enjoys hiking can park near trail gates and follow the gravel-covered paths. American Village Park is off American Drive and features a playground and covered picnic tables shaded by tall trees. Nearby, Croasdaile Country Club is another popular recreational avenue. “A lot of members live in the neighborhood,” Andorfer says. “It’s a great resource – golf, tennis and social.” The club and its private amenities, including a championship golf course, are within about a 3-mile drive.

The expansive Duke Forest surrounds the West Durham on 2 sides.
The expansive Duke Forest surrounds the West Durham on 2 sides.
Duke Gardens near West Durham has 5 miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the gardens.
Duke Gardens near West Durham has 5 miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the gardens.
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Heading to downtown Durham to dine out

West Durham has shopping centers and industrial business parks in the north half and wooded residential areas in the south. Residents feel tucked away in the busy city of Durham, but shops, restaurants and Duke University are close by. There’s a Food Lion grocery store on Hillsborough Road, which is also lined with chain restaurants. If you want a wider range of restaurants, downtown has destinations like Cosmic Cantina for burritos and Mothers and Sons for Italian. Downtown Durham is also the place to go to browse vintage stores and locally owned boutiques. The Streets at Southpoint mall is about 20 minutes away by car. “Southpoint mall is the major shopping complex,” Strayhorn says. “It’s got the better stores, like Nordstrom and Belk and Macy’s. It’s got a big [Dick's Sporting Goods] that has two floors.”

Carolina Ale House has some of the best burgers in Durham and a great selection of beer.
Carolina Ale House has some of the best burgers in Durham and a great selection of beer.
Pure Soul a vegan fast-food experience that offers kindness and cleanliness in West Durham.
Pure Soul a vegan fast-food experience that offers kindness and cleanliness in West Durham.
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Rylee Doyle
Written By
Rylee Doyle
Bryan Regan
Photography Contributed By
Bryan Regan
Houston Knight
Video By
Houston Knight

Agents Specializing in this Area

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Schools

Source:
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

Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Raleigh-Durham International

29 min drive

Bus

Constitution Dr & Mckinley St

Bus

Neal Rd & Bishopstone Dr

Bus

Hillsborough Rd & Cole Mill Rd (Cvs)

Bus

Morreene Rd & American Dr (Sb)

Bus

Hillsborough Rd & Us 15-501 Sb (Krispy Kreme)

Bus

American Dr & Constitution Dr

Bus

Hillsborough Rd & Cole Mill Rd (Wb)

Reviews

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Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime West Durham US
Homicide 3 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 3 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 4 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 4 4
Larceny 4 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

West Durham Demographics and Home Trends

Housing Trends

Median List Price
$450,000
Median Sale Price
$415,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$626,950
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$296,500
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$353,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
2%
Last 12 months Home Sales
73
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-5%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$240

Neighborhood Facts

Number of Homes
1,754
Number of Homes for Sale
18
Median Year Built
1986
Months of Supply
3.00
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
2,284
Above the national average
1,930
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,443
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,241
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
20,037

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

Average Home Value





Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Renters

Demographics

Total Population
6,675
Median Age
37
Population Density
11 ppl/acre
Population under 18
21.6%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
15.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$99,235
Above the national average
$79,601
Average Household Income
$122,510

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
94.9%
College Graduates
74.1%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
39.2%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
75.7%

Weather

Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

10 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

0 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Nearby Neighborhoods

Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
West Durham