Durham

di1010

Sorry, I know this is the baby board, but can anyone tell me anything about Durham.

Is it a good place to live?

Is it a safe place to live?

mamaofmoose

Durham wouldn't be my first choice for a home-that's for sure.  It's a little rougher than areas I'm used to.  (I went to high school in a very rough part of town and loved it but even my friends wouldn't go to Durham in the evening)  I spent the day in Durham last month for work and was not comfortable driving to the different businesses i had to visit on my route.  I won't be going back pregnant!

uncjules

There are good parts of Durham and bad. I would stick near the Southpoint area. I feel that it's safer, the houses are nicer, etc.

My husband works in North Durham and finds that area very sketchy. And he doesn't get sketched out easily!

lalabee0425

Not all areas are bad, it all depends on where you live. There are parts of Raleigh I wouldn't live either--it all depends on location. I live in a very nice neighborhood. School-wise though? Not the greatest. We're probably going to do private school.

MrsJones2005

Lalabee0425:

Not all areas are bad, it all depends on where you live. There are parts of Raleigh I wouldn't live either--it all depends on location. I live in a very nice neighborhood. School-wise though? Not the greatest. We're probably going to do private school.

I agree with this completely. I'm seriously considering homeschooling because of our school choices...but otherwise I live in a great neighborhood.  Durham has a bad rep, but its all about what part of Durham you live in. 

JennaNAaron

MrsJones2005:

Lalabee0425:

Not all areas are bad, it all depends on where you live. There are parts of Raleigh I wouldn't live either--it all depends on location. I live in a very nice neighborhood. School-wise though? Not the greatest. We're probably going to do private school.

I agree with this completely. I'm seriously considering homeschooling because of our school choices...but otherwise I live in a great neighborhood.  Durham has a bad rep, but its all about what part of Durham you live in. 

 

I teach in Durham Public Schools and I will definitely say that schools are working to change for the better.  They aren't ALL bad.  I wouldn't say the whole county has bad schools that is much too generalized.    There are a bunch of really great schools.  If/When we have children I will for sure take my child to the school I work at and that doesn't concern me one bit.

mamaofmoose

I wanted to come back and post that there are DEFINITELY nice areas of Durham.  My friend just bought a house near Brier Creek and it is perfect.  I hope I don't offend anyone from Durham.  Reality is...it's 2011...I drove through Cary which is known for its low crime and saw a man going for a walk yesterday evening with gloves and a big stick to wack someone with if he got jumped!  Do your research!  Don't move to the part of town that has a strip club or something. )

5bears

Depends on where.  Plenty of parts of Durham are really nice (Southpoint, Old North Durham), etc.  I wouldn't say that I wouldn't go there at night--but I would say there are certain neighborhoods I wouldn't go to at night (same in Raleigh, where I live now).

We lived in Durham and wanted to buy a house elsewhere.  For what we wanted (great schools, large plot of land) it was more cost-effective to buy in Raleigh.