Secluded in the forest about 14 miles from Durham sits Hardscrabble Plantation, locally referred to as Hardscrabble. This all-residential neighborhood was originally a plantation owned by the Cain family in the 1700s. One of the Cain men described the land as “hardscrabble,” conveying the roughness of country life, and the name stuck. The land stayed in the family for four generations before it was redeveloped as a residential community in the 1990s. Today, the original Hardscrabble Plantation home is the site of the community clubhouse, which hosts activities for residents and coffee for those new to the neighborhood. Despite its name, life in Hardscrabble is now known for leisure: “There are walking trails and a nice clubhouse with a pool and tennis courts,” says Clara Harrison, an agent at Inhabit Real Estate who has sold in Hardscrabble. “It’s peaceful and tucked away, but still just 20 minutes to downtown Durham and downtown Hillsborough.” The overall CAP Index crime score is 1 out of 10, much lower than the national figure of 4.
Though there aren’t any parks in the neighborhood, living in Hardscrabble can feel like living in one big park. Between the spacious yards, the walking paths winding through patches of forest and the number of readily available athletic amenities, Hardscrabble homeowners have access to a range of outdoor recreation. Residents can swim in the pool and kids can join the neighborhood swim team. Tennis players have their pick of the four clay courts and two asphalt courts. Neighbors can meet up at the sand volleyball court, soccer field or softball field for a pickup game. Hardscrabble also caters to outdoor fun of the less strenuous variety, between its fishing ponds, picnic areas and playgrounds. For an extra fee, residents can claim a plot in the community garden.
Hardscrabble Plantation is a beautiful sprawling neighborhood North of Durham, in North Carolina.
Residents of Hardscrabble Plantation enjoy the great weather and ample outdoor space of the neighborhood year round.
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Cul-de-sacs, big yards and tall trees
Cul-de-sacs branch out from Hardscrabble Drive, the community’s main loop. Homes built in the 1990s and early 2000s are spaced out among dense trees, which provide privacy. The neighborhood’s 285 homes tend to be at least 2,500 square feet each. These large custom builds and Colonial Revivals sit back on spacious lots, which typically span an acre or more. “The neighborhood has really big lots and the price-per-square-foot is really appealing,” Harrison says. Prices range from about $450,000 to $785,000, with an average price-per-square-foot of $209. Monthly HOA fees total $131, which cover the use and maintenance of recreational amenities.
Hardscrabble Plantation residents enjoy large yards and personal space with their homes.
Many of the homes are tucked away surrounded by the dense forest within the Hardscrabble Plantation neighborhood.
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Students are zoned for Durham Public Schools
Durham Public Schools is rated B-plus overall by Niche. Students may attend Magnum Elementary, rated B-plus, Lucas Middle, rated C-plus, and Northern High School, rated B-minus. All schools are located outside of the neighborhood. The culinary team from Northern High won the 2025 North Carolina Jr. Chef Cook-Off with their chipotle beef and sweet potato skillet recipe, which featured locally grown ingredients. Duke University, known for its striking Collegiate Gothic architecture, highly rated academic programs and championship-winning basketball team, is about 13 miles south.
Magnum Elementary School features a very impressive 12:1 student to teacher ratio.
Northern High School students are known as The Northern Knights.
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Locally owned establishments near Hardscrabble
Broken Spoke Farmstand offers soft-serve ice cream and fresh produce, and Underwood & Sons Grocery is a beloved, locally owned convenience store about 5 miles away. But for major grocery hauls, shoppers can head to Food Lion at Eno Square shopping mall. This strip mall is also home to Del Rancho Mexican Grill, which boasts a lively atmosphere and a large bar beneath hanging lights. More shopping and dining options line Main Street in downtown Durham, a pedestrian-friendly district that includes vintage clothing boutiques, trendy bars and restaurants serving international cuisines.
Food Lion is just a few minutes away for the everyday grocery needs of Hardscrabble Plantation residents.
Locals of Hardscrabble Plantation love the locally owned and operated Underwood & Sons Grocery nearby.
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Making the drive to Durham
Hardscrabble is a car-dependent community. Drivers enter the neighborhood via St. Mary’s Road, and nearby Route 157 connects Hardscrabble to Durham. Residents are about 12 miles from medical care at UNC-Hospitals Hillsborough Campus and 26 miles from air travel at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
John Rines,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Transit
Airport
Raleigh-Durham International
40 min drive
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Hardscrabble Plantation
US
Homicide
1
4
Sexual Assault
1
4
Assault with Weapon
1
4
Robbery
1
4
Burglary
1
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
1
4
Larceny
1
4
Crime Score
1
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Hardscrabble Plantation, Durham sell after 14 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Hardscrabble Plantation, Durham over the last 12 months is $639,011, up 2% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Home Trends
Median Price (12 Mo)
$630,000
Median Single Family Price
$630,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$207
Last 12 months Home Sales
18
Median List Price
$600,000
Median Discount From 1st List Price
-1%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
5%
Home Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
258
Median Year Built
1996
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
3,130
Significantly above the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
46,609
Distribution of Home Values
Source: Public Records
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
John Rines,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
647
Median Age
53
Population under 18
17%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
28.9%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$137,500
Significantly above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$160,402
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
99.6%
College Graduates
74.3%
Significantly above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
44.8%
Significantly above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
72.3%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
17/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
5/ 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.
