Historic homes in between Duke University and downtown Durham
Historic charm meets walkability in Burch Avenue. This Durham neighborhood, included in the West End Historic District, sits about a mile west of the city center and less than 2 miles from Duke University. First appearing on maps in 1902, the neighborhood is believed to be named after real estate investor Frank P. Burch, who had ties to W.T. Blackwell & Co. Tobacco, producer of the city’s well-known Bull Durham Tobacco. Burch Avenue thrived until the Durham Freeway was built in the 1970s, demolishing homes and cutting the community off from downtown. The neighborhood today is on an upswing, featuring a namesake park in its heart, the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on its far east side and a large apartment complex on its western edge. Small businesses line West Chapel Hill Street to the south. With Duke University and downtown close by, this community is home to a mix of college students, professors, families and young professionals.
Burch Avenue neighborhood residents enjoy sports and more at The Bull Durham Athletic Park.
Burch Avenue residents are just minutes away from Duke University.
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Early 20th-century homes and a piece of Reynolds family history
Single-family homes primarily built between the 1920s and 1960s sit close together along Burch Avenue’s gridded streets. Bungalows are the most common, sharing blocks with Queen Anne and Craftsman designs. These homes sit near the road on lots around a 10th acre fronted with sidewalks. While on-street parking is ample, many homes feature driveways. With these properties often a century old, it’s common for homebuyers to renovate, but any work done must abide by historic regulations.
Properties don’t go on the market often in Burch Avenue, but when they do, they sell quickly. On average, homes spend only one day on the market, compared to the national average of 45 days. Only two homes were sold between December 2023 and June 2024, with prices ranging from $595,000 for a bungalow from 1907 to $890,000 for the historic Stephenson-Rochelle house along Gattis Street dating to 1918. The Stephenson-Rochelle house was once owned by Anne Cannon Reynolds Forsyth, the granddaughter of R. J. Reynolds, who founded the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 1875.
Homes in the Burch Avenue neighborhood come in a wide range of architectural styles.
Smaller ranch homes are prevalent in the Burch Avenue neighborhood.
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GRUB Durham in the neighborhood, Durham Bulls Athletic Park nearby
Groceries and a meal are just blocks away in Burch Avenue. Small businesses line West Chapel Hill Street, including GRUB Durham. This vibrant women-owned restaurant housed in a former gas station serves up Southern cuisine and draws a happy hour crowd for its rooftop bar. Mornings are busy at Isaac’s Bagels, boxing up breakfast sandwiches and pouring coffee to go. The Fuzzy Needle is next door, where customers peruse a vast collection of used vinyl and books. Durham Co-op Market, the neighborhood’s community-owned grocery store, stocks local and organic products. But the shop is more than a market. “It’s a community business built by the community for the community,” says Dawn Pressley, the store’s community outreach coordinator. “We have programs for membership; you can get discounts and free gifts, but you don’t need a membership to shop here. Everyone is welcome,” says Pressley, who adds that Duke students are a good portion of their customer base, and the market regularly donates food to area nonprofits.
Downtown Durham offers nightlife and entertainment, from concerts at the Durham Performing Arts Center to bar hopping around The Bullpen social district. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is a little over a mile away on foot. “A client of mine will walk to the Bull games from the neighborhood. You see a bunch of people trialing down West Chapel Hill Street on game day,” says Stacy Slone, a Realtor with Keller Williams Elite Realty, who’s lived in Durham since the late 1980s. Nasher Museum of Art is on the campus of Duke University, featuring thousands of works from classic to contemporary.
Durham Co-op Market is a popular health food destination for Burch Avenue residents.
Area residents can enjoy patio dining at Grub Durham.
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Durham Central Park and a neighborhood green space
Burch Avenue Park rests near the center of the neighborhood. With a colorful, accessible playground, a small stage and a little library, it’s a popular spot for families to unwind. Public art dots Durham Central Park, a little over a mile away, hosting Durham Farmers' Market and various city festivals. A peaceful atmosphere is found at the 55-acre Sarah P. Duke Gardens, where walking paths shaded by trees weave around manicured flower beds. Basketball and baseball bring residents to Lyon Park, home to the Community Family Life & Recreation Center, which provides youth summer camps and programs. The center has a long history in Durham’s West End. It was first built as the Lyon Park School, serving Black children, in the 1920s.
There's nothing better than music in the morning at the Durham Farmers' Market.
Durham Central Park is a place filled with natural beauty and man-made wonders.
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Students learn Spanish at Lakewood Elementary and Brogden Middle
Durham Public Schools offers assigned schools or the option to apply to a magnet program. Lakewood Elementary, Brogden Middle and C.E. Jordan High serve Burch Avenue. Lakewood Elementary receives an overall C rating from Niche. Students in its Dual Language Immersion Program start learning Spanish in kindergarten. The program continues at the C-rated Brogden Middle. Opening in 1963 as the district’s first desegrated school, C.E. Jordan High earns a B-plus rating and offers an agriscience pathway. The neighborhood is home to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, which features the private and unrated Immaculata Catholic School, serving kindergarten through eighth grades. Duke University sits west of Burch Avenue, and North Carolina Central University, a historically Black university, is less than 3 miles away.
Durham, NC's Lakewood Elementary serves approximately 380 students.
Brogden Middle School serves nearly 700 students in the Durham, NC area.
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Getting around Durham on foot, bike or bus
Burch Avenue is a walkable neighborhood with sidewalks and marked pedestrian crossings along several main streets. Bike lanes are available along West Chapel Hill Street and Duke University Road for commutes to downtown or Duke University. GoDurham buses also stop along these streets for rides around the city. Durham Station is about a mile east, offering Amtrak service to nearby cities, including Raleigh and Greensboro. The Durham Freeway hugs the neighborhood’s east side to reach destinations like Research Triangle Park, hosting hundreds of employers, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport, roughly 9 and 14 miles away, respectively.
the Burch Avenue neighborhood residents use GoDurham buses as their primary public transport
Duke Transit is available to Burch Avenue residents.
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Icon Downtown Durham is an updated historic apartment community located within walking distance of Duke University and Downtown Durham! We offer a variety of upgraded apartments, some still retain their original charm with hardwood floors, large windows and 9' ceilings. Many of our floor plans include washers, dryers and dishwashers! For years we've been the preferred choice for Duke affiliates
---- SCHEDULE A SHOWING ONLINE AT: ----2BR, 1BA historic mill house in Burch Avenue neighborhood near Duke. Built in 1905, high ceilings and hardwood floors. Backs up to Central Campus, 5 minute walk to East. Includes fridge, dishwasher, stove, microwave and washer/dryer, IKEA kitchen, built in bookshelves. Large backyard, and drip irrigation is optional for veggie growers. Central A/C, all
Beautiful finishes in a great walkable location, convenient to Duke and Downtown- Includes High Speed Internet (350Mbps)- Includes Full sized front load Washer/Dryer in unit- Great natural lighting throughout- Open kitchen with stainless steel appliances (dishwasher, range, refrigerator), tile floors,and built in breakfast bar/dedicated workspace- Generous sized bathroom
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Dave Wylie,
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Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
817
Median Age
35
Population under 18
16.3%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.4%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$74,422
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$120,930
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
87.7%
College Graduates
61.5%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
35.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
52%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
85/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
72/ 100
Good Transit
Transit Score®
62/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
