Reviews & Comments
Durham, NC
The Good is Great and the Bad is Awful -
4/17/2020The good things in Durham are great, and the bad things in Durham are awful. I have lived in Durham for 5 years.
The good: In Durham there is excellent and highly specialized medical care, good career opportunities for medical, education, and tech professionals. The area is diverse with an eclectic culture, which is also very progressive in terms of social justice. The public school system currently has a superintendent making effort to improve the schools for students and staff. There are lots of great local food/restaurants, and there are tons of free or inexpensive things to do between Durham and Raleigh like, state parks, museums, gardens, and playgrounds.
The bad: crime is rampant. My car has been broken into multiple times, gun shots at night are no longer surprising and occur multiple times per week. Gang activity is apparent, and shootings have recently been occurring during the day and along main roads (people shooting into other people’s cars midday). It does not seem like the local government is making a true effort to address violence and homelessness.There are many charter schools in the area which really hurt the district’s public schools.
Overall, I do not feel safe in Durham and would not advise someone to move here. However, Durham is unique with many great qualities. It has potential to be a wonderful place, if crime was under control.