About Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina is home to Duke University, and while the city may be known for many other things across the nation, it is hard to associate anything else with this town during winter Saturdays when the beloved Blue Devils are gearing up for a basketball game against cross town rival North Carolina. Durham was founded in 1853 and quickly became a tobacco trading center and one of the most important trading spots in the fledgling southern United States. But today, Durham is equally as well known for playing host to “The Harvard of the South,” Duke University. Durham apartments range in price dramatically across town, with some of the most expensive units being right next to the university. Duke, unlike many state schools, is far from cheap, so don’t expect the same kind of college discount you might receive on apartments near other college campuses.

Durham is a city that was built on the tobacco trade. To this day, many people refer to Durham and the areas around the city as Tobacco Road, and visitors to this area can still visit authentic tobacco plantations, some with slave quarters still intact. The history in Durham is alive around every corner, and thanks to the preservation work of the two major local universities, much of it is open to the public for visitation. But one must make time for fun in between all of the learning. Durham is home to the Durham Bulls minor league baseball team. If that name sounds familiar to you, there was a major Hollywood film about the team in the 1980’s. Of course, no discussion of the Durham sports scene would be complete without mentioning Duke vs. North Carolina. This rivalry is fiercely fought in all major sports. The two schools, one public, one private, are only nine miles away from each other.

Durham’s most remarkable quality is its commitment to its history. While some southern towns have tired to bury their links to slavery and the tobacco trade, Durham proudly showcases its history, while taking the appropriate steps to condemn and correct past mistakes.

If you’re in search of a studio Durham apartment, you can expect to pay $550-$650. A one bedroom Durham apartment will generally go for $650-$800, depending on space, location and amenities. A larger unit will start at $800 and go quite high, sometimes as much as $1500. Larger units have no real ceiling. Since there is a lot of money in Durham, rent here varies greatly.