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Durham, NC: City of Medicine- A North Carolina Best Place to Live
If it’s Friday it must be time for another Carolina Report!
We continue to crisscross North Carolina and South Carolina looking at some of the best places to live, retire or relocate with populations of 201,000 to 300,000 people.
We're headed back to the Research Triangle area to take a look at the best place to live known as “Bull City”, Durham, NC, population 228,330.
Like many of the cities and towns of North Carolina’s northern Piedmont region, Durham got its start as a railroad stop in the 1840’s. In this case for the new North Carolina Railroad.
As time passed what was originally called “Durham Station” grew from a small agricultural settlement into a thriving city famous mostly for its highly profitable tobacco products and prestigious schools like Duke University.
While Duke university is still standing and a major local employer, what remains of the local tobacco industry is old warehouses and factory buildings being turned into lofts apartments, office spaces and shopping centers for a new generation of “Durhamites”.
What started as an effort to prevent young scientists and researchers from leaving the state in the 1950’s has made Durham home to one of the most productive research and development centers in the United States, the Research Triangle Park. The park consists of three of three of the best places to live in North Carolina…Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
Durham, NC obviously has a lot going for it and I have to say it felt like a place that was really on the move; confident in what it had yet striving to realize its fullest potential. The people are in Durham are friendly, community oriented and come from all backgrounds and frankly all places.
There is no doubt about it that Durham has a big city vibe but if you get out into its many neighborhoods and stroll along quaint tree lined streets you find yourself thinking you’re in a much smaller town.
Downtown Durham is a lot of fun and I really like all the stuff that is easily within walking distance from a bustling Duke University campus.
Walk on over to the shopping and restaurants in nearby Bright Leaf Square down to the beautiful Durham Performing Arts Center and then a short jaunt over to the Durham Bulls Baseball stadium and you’ve had a pretty full day.
Durham.NC has a great nightlife and frankly I had no idea that it had so many excellent restaurants many of which are nationally or regionally ranked.
If you're an outdoor enthusiast you will love to know that this best place to live has over 60 parks, over 20 miles of greenways and trails, several of the best golf courses in the state, hundreds of tennis courts and three large nearby lakes offering fun and relaxation on the water.
Alright, so what are some of the intangibles about Durham, NC that will be important to you if this is your best place to live in North Carolina?
First if you do a computer search seeking various national rankings involving life in Durham, NC I guarantee you’ll be shocked because its literally into the hundreds and cover all different categories from best place to retire to best housing market to…you name it.
The local economy is diverse, strong, entrepreneurial, and future-oriented drawing business people and young workers from all over the world which means jobs, a higher standard of living and business opportunities to you.
Durham’s a very cosmopolitan place with a diverse population that is also very highly education with close to half of the population having at least a bachelors degree which is also to say the kind of community pushing for the kinds of services and investments that will enhance the overall quality of life in Durham.
In terms of educational opportunities, Durham, NC is a major college town with two major universities and five smaller colleges and has a solid public school system that consistently ranks very high in the state.
Durham sports an active arts and culture community with everything from a symphony orchestra to museums and art galleries to local theater groups and to the most amazing crop of festivals in the country.
“The City of Medicine” also provides some of the best medical care in the country and is home to several well-respected medical care facilities especially the Duke University Medical Center.
Durham, North Carolina has long been a great place for retirees to settle down with its strong and comprehensive medical services, many cultural and recreational pursuits as well as educational opportunities at places like the Duke University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
In terms of housing Durham is the kind of place that’s seen a lot of housing development in recent years. Just remember, whether it’s a townhome in a planned community out near Falls Lake or a sophisticated loft apartment in downtown, Durham has something for everyone.
If your not interested in buying a home in Durham, renting is definitely a viable alternative with popular rental options including everything from homes and townhouses to apartments.
Okay, I’ve only scratched the surface of the best places to relocate or retire in North Carolina with Durham so for more info please check out our NC Best Places and you might want to take a look at SC Best Places while you're there.
That’s all for now so adios until next week when we continue to seek out the best places to live, the best towns and cities in North Carolina and South Carolina with populations between 201,000 and 300,000 people.
Take care!
About Bob Bencivenga
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Bob Bencivenga is a professional site locator and location analyst for major corporations and has been researching the growth of NC and SC to find the Best Places to Retire or Relocate that are still affordable. |
| Visit his blog The Carolina Report and sign up for FREE updates by email,his FREE Affordable Best Places To Live Report and, get FREE Expert Advice on how to find Your Best Place to Retire or Relocate to in North Carolina and South Carolina, additional resources, and a lot more.
Bob does not sell real estate. |
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