Old North Durham

Housing and prices

No current neighborhood price figure is published here. Earlier drafts cited Redfin and Trulia numbers, but those pages could not be opened and checked, so they were removed. Old North Durham is an older, close-in neighborhood, and sale prices vary by house size and condition; check the linked Redfin neighborhood page for current figures. (as of 2026-10; redfin.com)

Historic frame houses

One- and two-story houses from the 1890s to 1930s in Queen Anne, Late Victorian and Bungalow styles, per the National Register listing.

Bungalows

Bungalow or American Craftsman is one of the architectural styles named in the National Register listing for the adjoining district.

Early apartment buildings

A few older multi-unit buildings, such as the Markham Apartments at 201-203 West Broadway Street, named in the National Register listing.

Places to know

Getting around

Walkability

Walk Score rates 608 N Mangum St at 88 (Very Walkable) and Bike Score at 62 (Bikeable). Old Five Points is a short walk from Durham Central Park.

Transit

Walk Score gives 608 N Mangum St a Transit Score of 56 and lists bus lines 4 and 9 nearby. Check current GoDurham schedules, as service changes.

Parking

Discover Durham notes street parking on one-way Mangum Street, advises looking south of Geer Street, and mentions a small lot at Old Five Points.

Drive to downtown

Discover Durham puts Old Five Points about a 10-minute walk from City Center and 11 minutes from Durham Central Park.

Weekly and seasonal rhythm

• Durham Farmers' Market, main season (Saturdays 8 am to noon, April through November, Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St)
  The market's about page also lists Saturday winter hours of 9 am to noon from December through March, and a Holiday Market on December 23. durhamfarmersmarket.com
• Durham Farmers' Market, midweek (Wednesdays 3 to 6 pm, mid-April to mid-October, Pavilion at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St)
  A smaller weekday market. During the main season the Durham Craft Market also sets up on the park green space, and Art Market Durham runs Saturdays at Hunt and Foster. durhamfarmersmarket.com
• Durham Central Park Food Truck Rodeo (Several Sundays a year, usually noon to 4 pm, Durham Central Park, Foster St)
  Food trucks gather at Durham Central Park. The Pride week schedule listed a Pride Vendor and Food Truck Rodeo there on September 27, 2026. Check the park calendar for the next date. discoverdurham.com
• Pride: Durham, NC (Annual, late September to early October, Venues across Durham including Durham Central Park)
  A fall Pride week organized by the LGBTQ Center of Durham since 2018. The 2026 week ran Sept 27 to Oct 3, with a parade on Duke East Campus on Oct 3 from noon to 2 pm. discoverdurham.com
• Night School Bar classes (Ongoing course schedule; check the venue, Night School Bar, 719 N Mangum St)
  Classes taught on a sliding scale in the bar, with entry through the back during sessions. discoverdurham.com

A perfect day

1. 8:00 am Saturday, Durham Farmers' Market. Browse the Pavilion stalls at Durham Central Park when the main season market opens. Tip: April through November only; winter Saturdays open at 9 am.
2. 9:30 am, Cocoa Cinnamon (Geer Street). Coffee or sipping chocolate at the original shop, one block from the park. Tip: Weekend hours begin at 8 am per Discover Durham; seating is indoors and out.
3. 11:00 am, Ellerbe Creek Trail. Walk or bike the greenway along South Ellerbe Creek from Trinity Avenue. Tip: Wikipedia notes it links to the Downtown Trail to the south.
4. 12:30 pm, Duke Park. Picnic or walk the trails at the historic-district park at West Knox Street. Tip: Discover Durham lists hours of 7 am to 9 pm.
5. 2:00 pm, Hatch Burritos. Late lunch of a smothered green chile burrito in Old Five Points. Tip: Discover Durham lists a 3 pm close, so arrive before then.
6. 4:00 pm, Night School Bar or Zeitgeist Bar and Gallery. A drink on North Mangum Street, with art at Zeitgeist or a class at Night School. Tip: Check each venue's event listing before going.
7. 6:30 pm, The Durham Beer Garden. Dinner of pub food and a drink at the beer garden on North Mangum Street. Tip: Closed Tuesdays; Saturday hours run noon to midnight per Discover Durham.

Honest trade-offs

• Most of the neighborhood is residential, so cafes, bars and restaurants sit on the edges at North Mangum Street and Geer Street rather than on interior blocks.
• Mangum Street is one-way with street parking, and Discover Durham advises looking south of Geer Street for a spot, so parking near the strip takes some searching.
• Houses built from the 1890s to the 1930s are old, so maintenance, inspection and renovation costs are a real consideration when buying here.
• No verified current price figure is included here, so check live listings and recent sales before budgeting for a purchase.
• Walk Score's Transit Score of 56 is well below the Walk Score of 88, so errands outside the Mangum corridor are easier by car or bike.

FAQs

Where are the boundaries of Old North Durham?

Open Durham lists the north edge as the abandoned Norfolk Southern Duke Beltline tracks, the east as Avondale Drive, the west as Washington Street, and a variable southern line along East Geer Street, Little Five Points and Broadway. The separate National Register district has its own boundaries around Glendale Avenue, West Knox Street, Roxboro Road, Trinity Avenue, Mangum and Broadway streets.

What kind of homes are in Old North Durham?

Mostly one- and two-story frame houses built from the 1890s to the 1930s. The National Register listing names Bungalow or American Craftsman, Late Victorian and Queen Anne styles, and notable buildings include the Markham Apartments and Calvary United Methodist Church. Expect older-home maintenance needs.

What do homes cost in Old North Durham?

This page does not give a current price figure, because the neighborhood price pages checked could not be opened and verified. Sale prices vary by size and condition. Check the Redfin neighborhood page and recent local sales for current numbers before budgeting.

Where are groceries and a farmers market near Old North Durham?

The Durham Farmers' Market meets at the Pavilion in Durham Central Park, 501 Foster St, on Saturdays from 8 am to noon April through November, and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 pm mid-April to mid-October. Durham Co-op Market at 1111 W Chapel Hill St is a short drive and lists daily hours of 7 am to 8 pm.

Is it walkable to restaurants and bars from Old North Durham?

Yes, from many blocks. The North Mangum Street strip in Old Five Points holds Hatch Burritos, Night School Bar, Zeitgeist Bar and Gallery and the Durham Beer Garden, and Geer Street holds Cocoa Cinnamon and Hutchins Garage. A Walk Score of 88 at 608 N Mangum St reflects this.

Where are the parks and trails?

Duke Park at 106 W Knox St has a gazebo shelter, picnic tables, tennis court, playgrounds, trails and a fenced dog park, open 7 am to 9 pm. Durham Central Park at Foster Street has the Great Lawn, butterfly gardens and a nature trail, and the Ellerbe Creek Trail starts at Trinity Avenue.

Which LGBTQ+ venues and events are near Old North Durham?

Night School Bar is listed by Discover Durham among LGBTQIA-owned and operated businesses, and Zeitgeist Bar and Gallery lists drag performances among its events. Pride: Durham, NC runs each fall, organized by the LGBTQ Center of Durham, with a 2026 parade on Duke East Campus.

How far is Old North Durham from downtown?

Discover Durham puts Old Five Points about a 10-minute walk from City Center and 11 minutes from Durham Central Park, which sits on the southern edge. Walk Score lists bus lines 4 and 9 near 608 N Mangum St, though service changes, so check the current schedule.