What BestPlaces Users Say about Durham
Durham, North Carolina is a diverse city known for its strong sense of community and vibrant cultural scene. It is home to prestigious universities, a booming tech hub, and a rich history. With its affordable cost of living and temperate climate, it's no wonder why many people choose to call Durham their home. However, like any place, it has its upsides and downsides. In order to get a better understanding of what it's like to live in Durham, let's take a look at what some residents have to say about their experiences.
One resident, named Maria, praised Durham's welcoming community in her review on Best Places, stating "The people here are friendly and accepting, creating a warm and inclusive environment for all." This sentiment was echoed by another reviewer named Sam, who mentioned the strong sense of community and support among neighbors. On the other hand, not everyone had the same positive experience with the community. A user named Rachel expressed concerns about the growing gentrification in Durham, saying "The city is changing rapidly and it's becoming harder for long-time residents to afford living here." This highlights the ongoing issue of gentrification and its impact on the city's affordability.
Some residents also mentioned the city's thriving food scene as a major perk of living in Durham. In her review, Joanne raved about the variety of restaurants and local eateries, saying "There are so many amazing restaurants to try here, from Southern comfort food to international cuisines, you'll never run out of options." Another reviewer named Max highlighted the city's access to outdoor activities, saying "Durham has plenty of parks and green spaces where you can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and biking." This is a major draw for those who enjoy an active lifestyle.
Despite its many positive aspects, there were also some complaints from residents. One user, named John, mentioned the city's traffic as a major downside, stating "The traffic can be unbearable, especially during rush hour." Another reviewer, named Sarah, expressed concerns about the city's lack of public transportation options. She said, "Getting around the city without a car can be a challenge. It would be great to have more reliable and accessible public transportation." These reviews highlight some of the common challenges that residents face in Durham.
Overall, it's clear that Durham has its strengths and weaknesses. Its strong sense of community, diverse culture, and thriving food scene make it a desirable place to live, but issues like gentrification and traffic should also be considered. Ultimately, the decision to live in Durham will depend on individual preferences, but the city certainly has a lot to offer.
based on 43 ReviewsGet to know Durham with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Durham
Attending Duke or working there, you don't have to - 11/25/2011
Drive 10 minutes South, cross 15-501 and make your way to MLK. As a grad student I bought and have lived near Old Chapel Hill Rd. and MLK for 6 years. Talk about location, Near me I have great food options like Fosters, Guglhupf bakery, Blue Note Grill and Q Shack. Harris Teeter, Kroger, Target and Walmart are within 3 min. of my house. Downtown is a short 12 minute drive and so is Southpoint Mall if heading the other direction. Neighborhood is friendly and I don't go to too many of the local spots without running into someone I know. As a mom with a child there are awesome local parks, biking trails and Hope Valley Elementary all within minutes of my door.
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The good and the bad - 9/5/2011
I live and own a home in Chapel Hill city, but Durham county, which means I really live in Durham, when it comes to government, taxes, utilities, and crime stats. We've been here just over 2 years, but I grew up in Cary and spend a lot of time in Raleigh, so I feel pretty knowledgeable about the Triangle.
Neighborhoodwise, I'm in southwest Durham. People will tell you this is the safe part, full of new construction, subdivisions, shopping, and middle income professionals. That's all true. But don't be naive, we have crime here. In my fairly affluent neighborhood, home and car breakins are a constant and no longer surprise. Last year we had a random, really violent assault right on my street in broad daylight. You can't live in fear, but please don;t be naive about SW Durham. Get an alarm system and keep your home and cars locked. Don't leave electronics in view. Join your neighborhood watch committee and get to know your neighbors. The police in District 3 are great and
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Dissapointing - 8/6/2011
Having moved from California I found this place to be a bit dissapointing. Not alot of tollerance for change, the locals seem to like the lifestyle. Housing is project like apartments, dated back 30 years...rents seem to change with the client...great for low income, disability or low paying wage class...can be frustrating for someone not from
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Nice Place to Live - 6/11/2011
North Carolina in general is a very nice place to live however some cities are easier to live in than others. We live in the triangle area in Durham but if we were looking again we would've probably ended up in Cary. Chapel Hill is nice but too crowded and busy. Durham has high crime rates and other problems but might be a good choice for urban pioneers/twittersomethings. Cary is more relaxed, very pretty with low crime and a significant Asian population which, in my estimation, always seems to up the quality of life in an area. There are many other areas in North Carolina - rural, coastal and mountainous as well that we haven't fully explored but which are also very attractive. Overall a great state to live
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From the north - 5/8/2011
I AM ORIGIANLLY FROM MICHIGAN, I RELOCATED HERE TO HELP A FAMILY MEMBER IN NEED. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL DURHAM SEEMS LIKE A DECENT PLACE...ALTHOUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DON'T SEEM TO BE THAT GREAT, I AM REFERING TO TEST SCORES AND THE CRIMINAL LIKE BEHAVIOR OF SOME THE YOUNGER KIDS.
DURHAM IS A STEP UP COMPARED TO THE CITY I LIVED IN MICHIGAN, THERE IS MORE TO DO HERE, MORE JOBS, MORE EDUCATIONAL OPORTUNITIES AND ARTS.
AS FOR THE LOCALS, I'M NOT QUITE SOLD ON THE SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY I ACTUALLY FEEL THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST AS EQUALLY FRIENDLY HERE AS WELL AS SOME FOLKS IN
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Solid place to live - 2/9/2011
I have to say I am shocked to see some of the threads posted here trying to portray Durham in a bad light. Durham is an amazingly up and coming place to live and raise a family. Is there racism in places, some crime in areas, opportunities to improve, of course. What urban area doesn't struggle with these issues? Durham has made amazing strides and boasts many things: NY Times Top Places in the World to Visit in 2011, Best places for young people, America's Foodiest Small Town, Durham boast one of the top Theaters in the World(#11) in ticket sales, proximity to world renown intellectual centers of higher learning and business, and world renown healthcare.
Please think twice about posts listed here that are overly critical of Durham. Yes there are opportunities to improve, but a city only improves when individuals desire to be an active part of the community in which they live. I would be surprised to find out that the person who left Durham to move to Chapel Hill
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I am glad I don't live there anymore - 2/3/2011
I was born and raised in Durham my entire life up until I was 24 and I have to say I am glad to be gone from that city. The people there are either racist as hell (both Black and White), stuck up 9th Street liberals who associate with Duke or troublemakers who have nothing else to do but cause trouble and there is generally nothing to do there for young people or the young at heart. There are no opportunities for young people either. Also, the cops are racist as hell too and won't help you if you're Black and victim of crime. I have since moved to Chapel Hill and while there some of the same here as there are in Durham, they not as profound as they are in Durham. I eventually would like to move to the West Coast( preferably Huntington Beach, California or maybe Oregon or Washington
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Housing Costs - 9/18/2009
If you're looking to buy your housing, Durham is hard to beat. Property costs here are quite low compared to many areas of the county, and it is still possible to find a good 3-4 bedroom house on a good-sized lot (or 1-4 acs) for less than
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South Durham - 9/11/2009
South Durham is a nice place to live for professionals in the computer and medical fields. Good job opportunities with local companies in the Research Triangle park, real estate and jobs that are weathering the downturn above average for the nation & state and reasonably good schools are the upsides. It's cheaper than nearby Cary, Chapel Hill, etc, but the schools and services are not as good. Having said that they are FAR superior to North Durham which is where Durham gets a lot of it's reputation.
North Durham is improving and may well be recommended in the future as
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Moving to Durham - 4/8/2009
I plan to relocate to durham this fall or winter so i am doing some research ont he city. If anyone can give me some feedback or insight on the city's schools, neighborhoods, and economy, I would be
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