Durham, NC, sister-city to Raleigh, has all the best parts of a large city, packed into a much more reasonable package. Because it used to be a big tobacco town, there was already a lot of infrastructure needed to make a great little-city. All of the brick buildings used to house those workers are now some of local's favorite places to live, eat, and work! 

Some of the perks include a ton of opportunities for outdoor activities, great restaurants with dog-friendly patios, a surprisingly great art community, and a big university. 

Review of Durham from a local:
*I LOVED living in Durham. Especially when I worked in Wake Forest. It was a straight shot down 98. I ended up moving back to WF/N Raleigh line when I got a job further in north Raleigh. I lived on the border of Lakewood/Maplewood and I loved it. I was off Chapel Hill rd and while my apt was awful the location was great. 5 min to downtown/Brightleaf and I very much frequented Durty Bull brewery, Motorco, Accordion Club, Geer St, James Joyce, Devines, & the Social. Made an occasional appearance at the Green Room too. The social atmosphere is a world away from downtown Raleigh where everyone’s concerned with your job and status. In Durham it’s far more intellectual. I always felt like the people I met in Durham were far more genuine. Plus the food is awesome.*

 It’s a big city packed into a small town

The Best Thing About Durham?

If you talk to a Durham local about moving there, they’re going to mention that besides a few ritzy neighborhoods, it’s not the most walkable or bike-friendly city in the US. That being said, there are a lot of areas specifically for recreational activities, but you do lose that city feel the more you talk about walkability. With people also complaining about the public transit, it’s definitely considered a must-have car town unless you live right smack-dab in the center of downtown.

Here's a note from a local about city efforts to improve public transport: *The TLDR is it's a priority to city council and they are making progress. It's at the research phase right now. We need to be patient because these improvements don't happen over night, but we need to keep telling them this is important to us.*

Not particularly bike-friendly or walkable

The Worst Thing About Durham?

In terms of work, Durham is big on tech and medical. As a growing tech city and part of The Research Triangle, or The Triangle, it’s home to one of the most prominent high-tech research and development centers in the US, making it a hotspot for people wanting to use University’s resources. Not to be outdone by tech, the city of Durham is also dubbed “The City of Medicine” according to durham.gov and has over 300 medical and health-related companies. 

Most of the Durham workforce works at one of the hospitals/universities in the area either Duke or UNC. There is an awesome biotech hub here with Syngenta, Biomerieux, Monsanto (sorry), BASF, Bayer Crop Science, EPA all represented. There is a pretty thriving agriculture scene here with a lot of small farms in the area. Those are mostly in the northern part of the county and in adjacent Orange and Chatham county. 

Worklife of Durham

Like many mid-sized cities, Durham is becoming less and less of a hidden gem by the day. That being said, there are a lot of housing opportunities due to the rotation of students and fellows at Duke. Speaking of Duke, according to the University, the cost of living in Durham is about 23% lower than the national average.


Cost of Living/Opportunities

Why You Should Move Here Now?

Durham, being home to Duke University and several other colleges, is a great place to be if you love a college atmosphere, great bars and restaurants, and sports. Although locals will tell you to avoid certain places *cough* Shooters *cough*, you’ll find a host of great places to see friends, hang out, grab a beer, and watch a game. Check out these neighborhoods if you’re a Duke fan or just love college sports and nightlife:
- Brightleaf
- Geer St.
- 9th St.

College Students

Brightleaf Square

A booming job market isn’t the only thing that attracts young professionals to Durham. The city has an astounding amount for young professionals to get up to when they’re not working (at Duke). There are amazing restaurants, local businesses, weekly farmer’s markets, and a huge art scene to explore all around downtown. Because Durham is a big city stuffed into a small downtown, there is plenty to do without losing that quaint neighborhood feel:
- Geer St.
- American Tobacco
- Warehouse District
- Lakewood


Young Professionals

Geer St. 

There are plenty of family-friendly neighborhoods to explore in Durham. Because a lot of young families get transplanted here for work purposes, there is a very tight knit community of families (both locals and transplants) who are ready to welcome yours with open arms! A lot of Durham neighborhoods, although not that walkable, boast large lot sizes and yards, perfect for young families. 
- Cleveland-Holloway
- Trinity Park
- Old West Durham
- Morehead Hill


Young Families

Cleveland-Holloway

Families whose kids are a little older might be interested to know that there are plenty of neighborhoods that both cut down on commute while giving you the feel of traditional suburbs. These neighborhoods boast both historic and contemporary homes, while being close to parks and greenways like Duke Park. Although not as walkable as other neighborhoods right in downtown, Duke Park is close to downtown and so you get the best of both worlds. 
- Duke Park
- Hope Valley
- Forest Hills
- North Gate Park
- American Village
- Woodcroft


Established Families

Duke Park

The constant innovation that The Triangle brings to the Durham area means that the city is full of energy and youth, which sounds like the perfect vibe for the recently empty-nested or retired. It has a great climate, friendly people, and a very high quality of life, all with the perfect blend of a small-town and big-city feel. Check out these neighborhoods for your perfect spot:
- Southpoint
- Walltown
- Duke Forest


Empty Nesters/Retirees

Southpoint

Durham

**Pros/Cons of living in Durham?**

First, Durham is a wonderful place but it is not Portland, Seattle, nor San Francisco. Coming here with those as points of reference will surely leave you disappointed. Durham is a relatively young city (post Civil War) that started off as railway stop and later a hub for cigarette manufacturing and tobacco wholesaling. It has no grid system and is mostly designed for travel by automobile. There is a more a bike culture in the downtown area and countryside but the suburbs and their thoroughfares are a death wish. Durham has lots of wonderful restaurants at a variety of price ranges though ethnic food may be more sparse. Durham's demographics have a lot to do with the city's culture (~44% Black, ~44% White, the remainder Hispanic/Asian, etc) and with lots of restaurants/farmer's market's catering to the Southern palette. If you want fresh fish, move closer to the beach. There are lots of hiking trails (I am forester), swimming holes, and rivers to canoe/kayak. Also, if you do decide to move here (Welcome!) please do not complain about 'how Durham doesn't have insert noun here' because most residents are sick of hearing it.

**Best and worst parts about living in Durham?**
I LOVED living in Durham. Especially when I worked in Wake Forest. It was a straight shot down 98. I ended up moving back to WF/N Raleigh line when I got a job further in north Raleigh. I lived on the border of Lakewood/Maplewood and I loved it. I was off Chapel Hill rd and while my apt was awful the location was great. 5 min to downtown/Brightleaf and I very much frequented Durty Bull brewery, Motorco, Accordion Club, Geer St, James Joyce, Devines, & the Social. Made an occasional appearance at the Green Room too. The social atmosphere is a world away from downtown Raleigh where everyone’s concerned with your job and status. In Durham it’s far more intellectual. I always felt like the people I met in Durham were far more genuine. Plus the food is awesome.

**Are people friendly in Durham, NC?**

We are grandparents who moved to Durham from Maryland about three years ago to be near grandchildren. We find the people to be very friendly!

Everywhere we go, whether to doctor’s offices, restaurants, shopping centers, etc., we are greeted warmly by people who provide services. Even more interesting is that people who pass us by almost always acknowledge us with a smile and a friendly greeting. Striking up a conversation with a stranger is a common occurrence.

There is a broad mix of races here in Durham—white, black, Indian, Asian—and all seem to blend together with kindness and respect.

Living in Durham has been a most pleasant experience and we expect it to remain so.

**What are some of the pros and cons of living in Raleigh-Durham area? I am thinking about moving with my family from Los Angeles, CA and work in healthcare.**

I have lived in NC, KY, OH and FL personally. I have visited California, but only in short busts. Some of the other answers are really good. I left the north to escape winter, and had moved to Florida. After dealing with all that entails living in Florida, my wife and I moved to the Triangle area.

I will say that I absolutely LOVE living in this area. There is a lot to do, that were mentioned in all of the other posts. Some of the things I will mention are just my observations. There are jerks everywhere, and this area is no exception. Having said that, they are few and far between. You really get an understanding for the term “Southern Hospitality”. It was a little off putting when I first moved here. Only because everywhere I had lived, especially Florida, if someone is being nice to you, they are setting you up or have an motive. For the most part, everybody is really polite, and usually quite charming. Even though people here complain about it, but the traffic here is really manageable. I’ve driven in L.A., and San Francisco, New York, Miami, and many other major cities. This is a walk in the park. Things aren’t as fast paced here. There are times you will have to just lean back and realize that certain things are done differently. I’ve had people in the past say that I am calling the people here lazy. I am not saying that at all. I’ve met some of the hardest working individuals here. What I mean by it, is that there is a mentality that there’s more to life than the hustle and bustle of work. It has actually made me a better person living here.

This isn’t a Con for the area, but something you might want to prepare for here. You are in the South. You are in an area that is considered part of the “Bible Belt”. Especially among people who are originally from here and older people, but church is very important here. Once again, I am not stressing this as a con. I feel I am quite spiritual myself.

Durham, North Carolina

Bull City

Looklyloo Score: 87

We're on it!