Living in Durham, North Carolina:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

Someone moving to Durham should know that is known as the “City of Medicine”. The city is full of hospitals and tons of clinics focusing on cutting edge medical research. Durham is also home to Duke University, one of the best colleges in the south. It is also a rival of Chapel Hill, because the University of North Carolina competes against Duke in basketball.

Those who have not spent a great deal of time in Durham may view it as a run-down, dangerous city. However, that perception is nothing but an exaggerated stereotype of what Durham used to be. Someone moving to Durham today would find beautiful new high-rises, significant race and economic diversity, low crime rates, and opportunity. Durham is very large, comprising multiple sections that look as if they couldn’t possible be part of the same city; any type of environment one may search for is very likely to be found in this city.

Durham, North Carolina, has the largest number of households in poverty in the Triangle area, and is also the most socially conscious of the major cities here. Those who relocate to Durham may want to be prepared to advocate and act on behalf of those less privileged. And Durham also has the liveliest food scene in the Triangle, so prospective residents should bring their appetites as well.

Durham, NC, is home to some of the world’s leading research in medicine and science. Because Durham is home to the Research Triangle Park, a world-class hospital network, and Duke University, the opportunities for collaboration between professionals and students abound.

Durham is a sports city and a college town. All its colleges have sports teams, but three universities in particular dominate the sports attention, Duke University, NC State, and UNC Chapel Hill. If you come to this area (“The Triangle”), you can be thrilled with more than your fill of sports between the major leagues and college sports. On the other hand, if you’re the spouse of a sports buff, it may mean something else to you.

Durham is a city with a rich history in tobacco. The state is known historically for its tobacco growth, and Durham was once one of the largest southern hubs for the tobacco industry. This once prominent distribution city was nicknamed the “Bull City” after Bull Durham Tobacco, a product of the Blackwell Tobacco Company. Durham housed large tobacco companies including Lucky Strike tobacco, whose downtown warehouse location has since been converted into office space, restaurants and bars. This is just one of the many revitalized areas in Durham that have preserved history for many to enjoy.