What’s the best part of Durham?
It could be where everyone knows their neighbor. Or it could be where home prices are the highest, meaning it’s where everyone wants to live.
Instead of relying on public opinion and speculation, we wanted to get the facts straight and find out which neighborhoods in Durham are the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Whether you live in the sticks or in an apartment building downtown, you want a little pocket that you can call home. And each neighborhood offers different perks and benefits.
Smaller neighborhoods usually have obvious benefits — less crime, a slower pace of life, and a lower cost of living. But not all Durham neighborhoods are created equal. Some are better than others. But which ones?
If you’re thinking of moving to North Carolina and Durham is on the top of your list, check out the best neighborhoods for 2024.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
So what’s the best neighborhood to live in Durham for 2024? According to the most recent census data, West End looks to be the best Durham neighborhood to live in.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Durham that deserve a little bragging rights, or maybe you’re interested in the worst neighborhoods in Durham.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
The 10 Best Neighborhoods To Live In Durham
1. West End
Population: 1,015
Median Home Value: $299,859 (Eighth best)
Median Income: $29,666 (32nd best)
More on West End: Real Estate
2. Trinity Park
Population: 2,538
Median Home Value: $272,201 (12th best)
Median Income: $45,654 (16th best)
More on Trinity Park: Real Estate
3. Walltown
Population: 1,871
Median Home Value: $271,157 (13th best)
Median Income: $53,573 (12th best)
More on Walltown: Real Estate
4. Lyon Park
Population: 759
Median Home Value: $133,717 (3best)
Median Income: $39,700 (20th best)
More on Lyon Park: Real Estate
5. Morrehead Hill
Population: 843
Median Home Value: $342,715 (Third best)
Median Income: $35,473 (26th best)
More on Morrehead Hill: Real Estate
6. Northeast Central Durham
Population: 3,521
Median Home Value: $83,731 (39th best)
Median Income: $25,537 (38th best)
More on Northeast Central Durham: Real Estate
7. Old West Durham
Population: 2,626
Median Home Value: $295,814 (11th best)
Median Income: $42,458 (19th best)
More on Old West Durham: Real Estate
8. Fayetteville Street Corridor
Population: 9,098
Median Home Value: $140,515 (28th best)
Median Income: $27,210 (37th best)
More on Fayetteville Street Corridor: Real Estate
9. St. Teresa
Population: 249
Median Home Value: $359,836 (Second best)
Median Income: $59,097 (Eighth best)
More on St. Teresa: Real Estate
10. Colonial Village
Population: 545
Median Home Value: $137,362 (29th best)
Median Income: $44,091 (18th best)
More on Colonial Village: Real Estate
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Durham, NC Neighborhoods In 2024
To rank the best neighborhoods in Durham, we had to determine what criteria define “best” and then apply Saturday Night Science to it.
Using FBI crime, Census, and extrapolated BLS data, we arrived at the following set of criteria:
- High incomes
- Low unemployment rates
- Low crime
- High home prices
- High population densities (A proxy for things to do)
We then ranked each neighborhood with scores from 1 to 41 in each category, where 1 was the best.
Next, we averaged the rankings for each neighborhood to create a best neighborhood index.
And finally, we crowned the neighborhood with the lowest best neighborhood index, the “Best City Neighborhood In Durham.” We’re lookin’ at you, West End.
Read on below to learn more about what it’s like to live in the best places Durham, North Carolina has to offer. Or skip to the end to see the list of all the neighborhoods in the city, from best to worst.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best neighborhoods to live in Durham.
Summary: Putting A Bow On Our Analysis Of The Best Neighborhoods In Durham
If you’re measuring the neighborhoods in Durham where crime is low and everyone wants to live, this is an accurate list.
The best neighborhoods in Durham are West End, Trinity Park, Walltown, Lyon Park, Morrehead Hill, Northeast Central Durham, Old West Durham, Fayetteville Street Corridor, St. Teresa, and Colonial Village.
As mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Durham aren’t all good. Duke Homestead takes the title of the worst neighborhood to live in Durham.
The worst neighborhoods in Durham are Duke Homestead, Omah Street Citizens, Latta Road, North Garrett Road Community, and Parkwood.
We ranked the neighborhoods from best to worst in the chart below.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina
Best Neighborhoods To Live In Durham For 2024 Detailed Data
| Rank | Neighborhood | Population | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West End | 1,015 | $299,859 | $29,666 |
| 2 | Trinity Park | 2,538 | $272,201 | $45,654 |
| 3 | Walltown | 1,871 | $271,157 | $53,573 |
| 4 | Lyon Park | 759 | $133,717 | $39,700 |
| 5 | Morrehead Hill | 843 | $342,715 | $35,473 |
| 6 | Northeast Central Durham | 3,521 | $83,731 | $25,537 |
| 7 | Old West Durham | 2,626 | $295,814 | $42,458 |
| 8 | Fayetteville Street Corridor | 9,098 | $140,515 | $27,210 |
| 9 | St. Teresa | 249 | $359,836 | $59,097 |
| 10 | Colonial Village | 545 | $137,362 | $44,091 |
| 11 | Y. E. Smith Community Organization | 2,043 | $81,073 | $32,460 |
| 12 | Rockwood | 800 | $308,157 | $57,956 |
| 13 | East Durham | 8,949 | $86,897 | $28,730 |
| 14 | Forest Hills | 1,647 | $342,482 | $36,831 |
| 15 | Southwest Central Durham | 5,272 | $238,098 | $34,215 |
| 16 | Parkside | 139 | $308,616 | $76,071 |
| 17 | Tuscaloosa-Lakewood | 1,493 | $299,859 | $38,481 |
| 18 | Albright Community | 826 | $100,829 | $28,532 |
| 19 | Plum Street | 262 | $83,749 | $23,602 |
| 20 | Valley Run | 261 | $263,643 | $32,204 |
| 21 | Duke University | 8,814 | $299,859 | $25,247 |
| 22 | Hope Valley | 9,260 | $444,276 | $67,904 |
| 23 | Burch Avenue | 533 | $299,859 | $24,844 |
| 24 | Lakewood Park | 646 | $189,799 | $37,969 |
| 25 | Old North Durham | 1,835 | $110,656 | $35,838 |
| 26 | Northgate Park | 1,455 | $137,362 | $44,747 |
| 27 | Watts Hospital-Hillandale | 2,787 | $240,189 | $55,992 |
| 28 | Southeast Durham Joint Community Council | 715 | $115,922 | $30,008 |
| 29 | Campus Hill | 488 | $113,703 | $27,722 |
| 30 | Duke Park | 2,162 | $177,479 | $46,012 |
| 31 | South Durham | 26,198 | $218,267 | $70,538 |
| 32 | Duke Forest | 2,753 | $245,167 | $33,147 |
| 33 | Stadium Heights | 1,207 | $209,480 | $38,955 |
| 34 | Wellons Village | 1,636 | $82,410 | $28,669 |
| 35 | Orange County Courtesy Review Area | 535 | $222,463 | $48,524 |
| 36 | Croasdaile Farm | 2,491 | $249,823 | $59,698 |
| 37 | Parkwood | 2,806 | $170,885 | $67,648 |
| 38 | North Garrett Road Community | 2,691 | $223,473 | $59,098 |
| 39 | Latta Road | 2,029 | $181,507 | $81,203 |
| 40 | Omah Street Citizens | 230 | $184,116 | $56,359 |
| 41 | Duke Homestead | 1,226 | $132,833 | $48,778 |