Creative · Diverse · Revitalized
Durham's reinvention is one of the great American urban stories. The American Tobacco Campus — a converted 19th-century tobacco factory — anchors a creative district that now houses tech startups, restaurants, and the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Duke University brings a constant stream of world-class research, performances, and cultural events, while the medical center is one of the top-ranked hospitals in the country. Neighborhoods like Trinity Park, Forest Hills, Watts-Hillandale, and Hope Valley offer a range of architectural character — from craftsman bungalows to mid-century moderns to new construction estates — at price points that still represent value relative to Raleigh and Chapel Hill. The restaurant scene is genuinely exceptional: Durham has produced more James Beard Award nominees per capita than almost any city its size. For buyers who want urban energy, cultural depth, and strong appreciation potential, Durham is a compelling choice.
Community Resources
County & Property Tax
Durham County
$0.7076 per $100 assessed value + City of Durham $0.5897 (2024)
- City of Durham residents pay both county and city tax — combined rate among higher in Triangle
- Durham County revaluation occurs every 4–8 years
- Elderly/disabled exclusion available for qualifying homeowners
Schools
Durham Public Schools
District SiteElementary
- Forest View Elementary
Hope Valley area — highly rated
- Parkwood Elementary
Southwest Durham
- Club Boulevard Elementary
Watts-Hillandale area
Middle
- Githens Middle School
Southwest Durham — strong academics
- Sherwood Githens Middle
IB Middle Years Programme
High School
- Jordan High School
Southwest Durham — IB & AP
- Riverside High School
North Durham
- Durham School of the Arts
Magnet — visual & performing arts
Private & Charter
- Durham Academy
PreK–12 independent — top private school in Triangle
- Carolina Friends School
K–12 Quaker independent school
- Immaculata Catholic School
K–8 Catholic school
Healthcare
Hospitals
- Duke University Hospital
Top 10 nationally — Level I Trauma Center
- Duke Regional Hospital
Community hospital, North Durham
- UNC Medical Center
~15 min west in Chapel Hill
Urgent Care
- Duke Urgent Care — multiple Durham locations
Walk-in care across Durham
- FastMed Urgent Care — Durham
Multiple locations
Specialty
- Duke Cancer Center
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center
- Duke Heart Center
World-renowned cardiac care
- Duke Neurology
Top-ranked neuroscience program
Dining
A selection of notable restaurants in and around Durham.