By Carl Johnson, Carl Johnson Real Estate Featured Photo by Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.com This issue, we explore the northern tip of our Triangle, featuring the highlights that make up Durham, North Carolina. As the middleman between smaller Chapel Hill and larger...
Living in Durham NC

Welcome to Durham!
Aside from being a caring city, Durham has plenty more to offer including a booming food scene that’s continually on the rise. Southern Living even dubbed the town as the “South’s Tastiest.” Business in Durham stays consistent and was even recognized as the No. 5 places for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) graduates in 2016.
Its nickname of the “Bull City” comes from a tobacco company that is credited with putting the city on the map, and has stayed relevant in many other aspects of the city today.
As a part of the Research Triangle Park that includes both Raleigh and Chapel Hill, the city is credited with pioneering the barcode by George Laurer. The very first item to ever be scanned with the said barcode happened to be a 10-pack of Wrigley’s Juicy Fruit chewing gum. Out of all of the major city’s employers, the Park has one of the highest numbers of those with doctorate degrees working in it.
The city of Durham has plenty to boast about when it comes to education, with Duke University being one of the top universities in the world. Some of Duke’s alumni in clued Richard Nixon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, talk show host Charlie Rose, and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. According to an annual study done by the U.S. News & World Report, Duke University ranked among the top 10 universities in the nation.
Duke University is well known for its athletic program as well, with head coach Mike Krzyzewski being the winningest coach in all of college basketball. Fans are known to pack Cameron Indoor Stadium and are labeled as the “Cameron Crazies”, signifying how loyal they are to the program.
North Carolina Central University is also located in the city of Durham, which is a public historically black university that was founded in 1910. In 2016, their football team won the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference title.
The Durham Public School system services more than 33,000 students in 54 schools. It is currently the 8th largest school system in North Carolina and employs more than 2,500 faculty and staff members. Their main focus is to attract, retain, motivate, and develop talented people.
As far as things to do, Durham is culturally unique and diverse with a variety of art and creativity spread throughout the city. A sense of history and pride can be found when exploring Durham. The American Tobacco Campus is home to charming restaurants such as Basan and NanaSteak. Head to the Brightleaf Square district for more nightlife and shopping options. The Southpoint area is home to one of the Triangle’s most popular malls and includes several shopping centers throughout. Durham also has a vibrant nature scene as well, with many parks to visit.
Durham is home to several exhilarating museums, including the 21c Museum that was recently ranked among the best. The performing arts scene is a major part of Durham, with the Durham Performing Arts Center having been ranked among the top five venues in the entire United States in 2016.
Moving to Durham NC
Living in Durham will be the experience of a lifetime, with plenty of new homes popping up throughout the area. Duke Energy is the city’s go-to source for energy, while PSNC Gas is the supplier of gas in Durham. For more resources including all things Durham, visit the city’s website.
Looking for New Homes in Durham?
If you’re looking for a particular neighborhood or home style, or want to find out which home builders are offering new homes in the area, you’ve come to the right place to start your research! And when you’re ready, let our New Home Finder show you detailed listings on the new homes currently available in this area.
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