$376,835Average Value$343Average Price per Sq Ft14Homes For Sale
History, nature and neighborliness are pillars of Northgate Park
The charm of many Durham neighborhoods is the quirky culture unique to each, and Northgate Park is no different in that respect. Beneath its thick canopy of trees, two Bull City legends hide: Durham’s Hidden Dinosaur and Gene Dillard’s Fantasyland. What surrounds these landmarks is a neighborhood built on community ties. Northgate Park is named after its central green space, the land donated to the city by a local couple in the late 1930s. The neighborhood would develop around this bird sanctuary over the next 30 years. “It’s a neighborhood with a very strong sense of community,” says Jeanette Hussey, a Realtor with West & Woodall Real Estate who’s a lifelong resident of Durham. “Because the lots are small, people are outside a lot and they get to know their neighbors,” Hussey adds that the character of Northgate Park’s older homes, its highway access and its closeness to downtown are a big draw for buyers.
Early 20th-century homes less than 3 miles from City Center
Northgate Park is known for its post-World War II architecture. Most single-family homes here were built between the 1940s and 1960s. These cottages, bungalows and ranch-style homes rest along the neighborhood’s wide, gridded streets, shaded by the branches of tall, mature trees. Neatly manicured lots vary from roughly a tenth to about half an acre. While most homes cost between $275,000 and more than $600,000, properties needing renovation can list closer to $200,000. Regardless of price, however, potential buyers need to be prepared to act quickly: As a highly desirable neighborhood, Northgate Park’s homes typically sell after an average of 25 days, roughly half the national average. FEMA flood maps show homes along Ellerbe Creek are in special flood hazard areas.
Northgate Park is a natural habitat, home to Durham’s Hidden Dinosaur
Ellerbe Creek flows through the neighborhood’s central green space, including its namesake park. This natural habitat holds landmarks of neighborhood history linked by the Ellerbee Creek Trail. A community center named in honor of Frank and Ruby Barfield, who donated land to the city for the park, once stood where the tennis courts are today. “When I was growing up, we would go dancing there,” Hussey says. The woods are also home to The Museum of Life and Science’s famed and ill-fated original Dinosaur Trail. Severely damaged by Hurricane Fran in 1996, it features a weathered Brontosaurus sculpture, The Bronto, that’s since become a Northgate Park icon. The museum’s current Dinosaur Trail, along with more than a dozen other exhibits, is located on its main campus north of the neighborhood. “They’ve got a butterfly house and so many trails and a train; many things for families to enjoy,” Hussey says.
Northgate Park’s playground has been closed since August 2023 after soil testing found high levels of lead in the soil. The park is one of several green spaces in Durham now included in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s pre-regulatory landfill program, which will work with the city to remediate the soil.
Gene Dillard turned his home into an art piece
The sun glitters off the mosaic of glass tiles adorning the Elgin Street cottage known as Gene Dillard’s Fantasyland. Dillard, a tradesman and self-taught artist, turned his home into art. His many whimsical sculptures decorate his front and back yards. Much like a museum, visitors stop by to see his works, take pictures and sign the guest book. Some are even lucky enough to catch Dillard at home and get a private tour of his backyard.
The Northgate Park Neighborhood Association hosts events year-round
From a Food Truck Rodeo series to trail cleanups and the Elgin Street Halloween Party, Northgate Park residents get together to celebrate holidays, connect with each other and care for the community. One annual and eagerly anticipated event takes place in early December, when neighbors welcome the holiday season with the annual Northgate Luminaries in the Park, organized by the Northgate Park Neighborhood Association. As the sun sets, luminaries made by volunteers and their families light up the neighborhood. Residents then gather at the park shelter to enjoy a potluck with entertainment by the Durham Chorale.
Local restaurants and retailers on North Roxboro Street
With North Roxboro Street serving as the neighborhood’s eastern boundary, local shops and restaurants are blocks away. Perfect Lovers is an industrial-chic coffee shop and art space where customers enjoy lattes inside or on the back patio. Super Taqueria offers a casual atmosphere for traditional Mexican favorites, while Currents Cafeteria serves Southern comfort classics in its no-frills digs. The family-owned King's Red & White Supermarket has been the neighborhood grocer since the 1950s. Food Lion and Compare Foods are also nearby.
Education options close to home include Club Boulevard Elementary
Earning a B-plus overall rating from Niche, Durham Public Schools uses an application lottery to offer school choice. Most homes in Northgate Park are zoned for Club Boulevard Elementary. The school, which sits adjacent to the neighborhood park, first welcomed students in 1950 to relieve overcrowding at other schools due to Northgate Park’s booming development. Today, it holds a B overall rating from Niche and recently switched from being a humanities magnet school to offering a dual-language immersion program. The program continues at the C-rated Brogden Middle. Riverside High receives a B-plus and offers an engineering program.
Several private and public charter schools are in the surrounding area, including Montessori Farm School, which is not yet rated by Niche, and Central Park School for Children, a B-plus-rated charter school offering Kindergarten through 8th grades. The A-plus-rated North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, which Niche ranks as the best public high school in America, and Duke University’s East Campus are about 2 miles southeast of the neighborhood.
There are multiple ways to get around Durham
Northgate Park has nearby access to two major routes through Durham: Interstate 85 and U.S. Route 501. Research Triangle Park, a regional hub for tech and science jobs, is roughly 12 miles away, and Raleigh-Durham International Airport is about an 18-mile drive. Downtown Durham is less than 3 miles from the neighborhood and can be reached by catching a GoDurham bus along Roxboro Road or biking down the South Ellerbee Creek Trail.
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
Mary-Kathryn Smith,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Oval Drive Park
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Grills
Northgate Park
Dog Park
Grills
Picnic Area
Transit
Airport
Raleigh-Durham International
25 min drive
Bus
Roxboro Rd & Davidson Ave (Sb)
Bus
Roxboro Rd & St Paul St
Bus
Roxboro Rd & Ellerbee St (Sb)
Bus
Roxboro Rd & Murray Ave
Bus
Roxboro Rd & Maynard Ave (Sb)
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Northgate Park
US
Homicide
4
4
Sexual Assault
4
4
Assault with Weapon
4
4
Robbery
5
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
5
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Northgate Park, Durham sell after 25 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Northgate Park, Durham over the last 12 months is $430,843, up 14% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
This storybook 3BR, 2 BA updated bungalow in Durham's well-loved Northgate Park combines 50's timeless charm with modern comfort — exterior German lap siding, lots of windows, well-worn pine floors, and a modern kitchen with SS appliances, Quartz countertops, and farm sink. Spacious rooms inside and one of the best backyards in the neighborhood! Updates include new HVAC (2017), new roof (2019),
Bright and airy 4-bedroom, 2-bath ranch with a lot of upgrades. 2 new skylights - in the living room and the primary bedroom - to hear the rain and see the stars! Newly refinished original hardwood floors throughout the whole house. New butcher block countertop and cast iron sink in the kitchen with gleaming subway tiles backsplash. Beautiful tiled showers in both bathrooms. Freshly painted and
Charming and well-maintained, this ranch-style home at 105 E Murray Ave is a lovingly cared-for 3-bedroom, 1-bath property on a spacious 0.26-acre lot, located in Durham's desirable Northgate Park neighborhood. Enjoy walkability to scenic trails, and the Museum of Life and Science. Built in 1981 and owned by only two families, this home offers comfort, privacy, and a great location. Fresh paint
Whoever said ''good things come in small packages'' must have been talking about 2709 Farthing Street. This delightfully cozy brick ranch offers everything you need—neatly wrapped in a manageable, sweet-as-can-be abode.Inside, original hardwood floors add timeless character, while an updated bathroom and brand-new kitchen appliances bring modern comfort and convenience. Working from home? The
Tucked into one of Durham's most beloved neighborhoods, this enchanting bungalow sits on one of the quietest streets in Northgate Park. The location within the location matters and this particular spot within the neighborhood is something special! Fully renovated in 2015, the home masterfully blends modern updates with its original character. New windows, crafted to mirror the home's classic
*Inviting Craftsman Style Bungalow in Northgate Park Neighborhood*A Quick Trip to Downtown, Shopping, Dining + the Museum of Life & Science*Sparkling Kitchen w/ Granite Countertops & Stainless Appliances*Downstairs Primary Bedroom w/ Huge Closet*Open Living Area*Cozy Fireplace Flanked by Built-in Shelving*Two Spacious Bedrooms Upstairs + Full Bath*Huge Fenced Yard w/ Two Storage Sheds & Sunny
---- SCHEDULE A SHOWING ONLINE AT: ----3 BR, 2 bath ranch, eat-in kitchen with stove, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, separate dining, LR, den, carpet and hardwoods, washer / dryer, gas heat / central air, alarm system (monitoring not included) patio and fenced yard. Pets negotiable. Convenient in town location near Costco and I-85.
---- SCHEDULE A SHOWING ONLINE AT: ----Spacious 4-BR 2 bath home on wooded lot features kitchen with range, refrigerator & dishwasher. Living room with fireplace plus separate den. Gas heat and central air. Washer / Dryer included. Outside features include large multi-level deck. Easy 2 minute walk to NC Museum of Life & Science to Northgate Park.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Mary-Kathryn Smith,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
2,544
Median Age
39
Population under 18
22.4%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
14.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$68,863
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$87,050
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
93.5%
College Graduates
59%
Above the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
24.6%
Above the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
75%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
49''
Average Winter Low Temperature
28°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
35/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
32/ 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.
