Living in Durham

Durham, North Carolina is located in the central portion of the state, halfway between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the pristine beaches of North Carolina's Outer Banks.  

Both residents and visitors alike enjoy the host of cultural, historical, educational, and natural amenities that Durham has to offer.  Our reasonable cost-of-living, first-class health care, sports teams, arts, entertainment, shopping options, and an abundance of the natural beauty typical of the Carolina Piedmont all contribute to the high quality of life that "Durhamites" enjoy.  

Durham’s diverse community makes it a cultural gem in North Carolina, while its thriving economic base continues to attract new investment from all over the globe.  The presence of renowned colleges and universities, as well as the many high tech, biotech, and research based companies make Durham a great place for spin-offs and entrepreneurial start-ups.

Housing options range from downtown trendy loft-style apartments for young professionals and empty nesters to horse farms in the country; from new suburban developments for family-style living to historic neighborhoods in the heart of the city. No matter your preference you can find it here.

Durham also offers an abundance of daytime activities for the individual as well as for families of any size.  If it’s adventure and outdoor life that you crave, kayak down the Eno River or stroll through the beautiful Sarah P. Duke Gardens.  History buffs can take a trip back in time by touring one of Durham’s many historic sites like Duke Homestead, Bennett Place orStagville.  Explore the Nasher Museum of Art or take the hands-on route by visiting the acclaimed Museum of Life and Science. 

If sports is at the top of your list, you'll be happy to know that Durham and the Triangle have them all.  Spend an evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to enjoy America’s favorite pastime or take a quick 15 minute trip to the RBC Center to check out the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes in action.  When it comes to college basketball, we are fanatics!  Join the Cameron Crazies at Duke University or cheer on the Eagles at North Carolina Central University.  WithUNC-Chapel Hill just eight miles away and N.C. State 25 miles, you can enjoy collegiate sports nearly any time of the year.

“Live” is the theme for Durham’s vibrant night life. Enjoy a live performance at beautifully restored Carolina Theatre in downtown Durham or a live Broadway show, direct from New York at the new Durham Performing Arts Center.  Listen to live music at one of the city’s free outdoor concert series or at one of downtown's new mixed-use developments like West Village, Brightleaf Square and American Tobacco Campus. Either before or after enjoying the live social scene, stop into one of the Triangle's, and the South's, best restaurants which are home to nationally renowned chefs.

Living in Durham is a great opportunity to experience a delightful mix of rich culture, fascinating history, terrific shopping, and an electrifying nightlife.   View the Self-Guided Orientation to Durham.

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All Area Codes (919) unless otherwise indicated

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Sports and Recreation

Higher Education

Transportation

Your quest for knowledge is endless in Durham. One can receive all levels of education from early childhood education through receiving a PhD without leaving the county borders!

Take a look at the many opportunities and programs for children and adults.

Daycare and Early Childhood Education

• Durham's Partnership for Children 
• North Carolina's Smart Start Program

Primary & Secondary Education 

• Durham Public Schools
• North Carolina School of Science and Math
• Charter and Private Schools in Durham
• North Carolina No Child Left Behind

Universities and Colleges 

• Duke University 
• North Carolina Central University
• Durham Technical Community College
• The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham
• Mount Olive College at the Triangle 
• North Carolina Wesleyan College  
• Strayer University 
• Walden University

Libraries

• Durham County Public Library
• Duke University Libraries
• Durham Technical Community College Library
• North Carolina Central University Libraries

Since 1981, Durham has proudly proclaimed itself as the City of Medicine USA. An exhaustive study conducted at the time confirmed that no other city in America exceeded Durham's variety of fine hospitals and allied medical facilities, prestigious teaching institutions, innovative research laboratories, and major healthcare corporations. Durham is home to the Duke University Health System and Duke Children's Hospital as well as a host of other healthcare facilities that are leaders in the healthcare field. Today, the City of Medicine maintains an even stronger claim to its title with nearly one-third of the Durham workforce employed in health-related occupations.

Quick Facts

Durham County has:

• 4 times the National Average of Physicians
• 3 times the National Average of Nurses
• Hospitals Caring for more than 70,000 annually
• 3rd Largest Medical School in the Nation

Find exactly what you are looking for in Durham! Durham offers several housing options from urban living in loft-style apartments to suburban single-family homes. Durham provides affordable housing options from starter homes to high-end executive living.

• Durham Neighborhoods
• Apartments
• Real Estate Agents
• Home Builders
• Relocation Services

A community that welcome retirees

It’s true…there is no better place to retire than Durham! CNNMoney ranked Durham the No. 1 place to retire in the U.S.

Durham is a community that welcomes retirees, so whether you’re an active live-life-to-the-fullest person or if you just want to kick back and watch the clouds breeze by, we hope you’ll choose to be here!

A vibrant arts and cultural community, retirees can’t help but find activities and events that interest them. From the Durham Symphony to annual events like CenterFest and the American Dance Festival to the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University and more, there are great opportunities for you taking place every day. 

If the outdoors is your thing, as it is for many retirees, we’ve got miles and miles of groomed trails and paved walkways throughout Durham County. There are organized walks and informal group hikes along the Eno River and a beautiful 3-mile trail around the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club. If you’re even more active, these are great places for running and biking like the American Tobacco Trail.

Durham has a tremendous advantage over many communities for retirees because it’s the “City of Medicine”. We have prominent hospitals such as Duke Medical Center and Durham Regional Hospital, complemented by specialty and community hospitals, clinics and urgent care centers, and physicians with specialties for every medical condition.

Residential living offers an array of options, from single family homes, retirement and assisted living communities, in-home health care, nursing homes with in-house medical professionals and urban downtown lofts to quiet horse farms in the county.

Durham’s rich and colorful history contributes to its diverse arts and culture scene.  With 13 historic sites, three art centers, six nature and science centers and the home of numerous annual events and festivals, Durham provides a journey back in time and a learning experience for the future.  Whether it’s a tour of Black Wall Street, a visit to an old tobacco farm at Duke Homestead or a day at the American Dance Festival, a trip to Durham is an experience you won’t forget.

Follow the links below for more Arts and Entertainment information:

• http://www.durham-nc.com/things/art/
• http://www.durham-nc.com/things/entertainment/

Whether golf is your game or its Mother Nature calling your name, the possibilities are endless in Durham. From miles of greenways and trails to the some of the Triangle’s best golf courses; from collegiate sports to professional teams; from outdoor adventure to indoor fun – anyone’s thirst for exercise or a leisurely activity can be quenched!

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