Is Few safe?
Durham, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Few as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Few
“Go with care. Few is an evolving, largely residential pocket in East Durham with close proximity to popular cultural hubs like Golden Belt, but property crime rates and occasional regional violent incidents warrant standard urban vigilance. Visitors should remain mindful of their surroundings and avoid poorly lit side streets late at night.”
East Durham continues to see ongoing municipal safety initiatives and community-led violence intervention programs aimed at curtailing property crime and gun violence.
About the area
Few is a historic East Durham neighborhood situated just east of downtown, characterized by a mix of early 20th-century mill-era homes, newer residential infill, and redeveloped community spaces. Its close proximity to arts and dining venues makes it a frequent thoroughfare for visitors exploring East Durham's creative scene.
- Evolving
- Arts-Adjacent
- Historic Mill Village
- Urban Residential
Walking and biking in Few
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 62/100
The neighborhood lacks dedicated protected bike lanes on residential roads, but riders can easily connect to on-street routes along Main Street heading toward the American Tobacco Trail trailhead downtown.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Immediate proximity to the vibrant Golden Belt arts, dining, and brewery district
- Short 5-minute commute to downtown Durham and Durham Station
- Ongoing neighborhood revitalization with active community engagement
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates remain above the national median
- Elevated poverty rates and socio-economic distress in parts of surrounding East Durham
- Inconsistent street lighting and sidewalk maintenance on some residential blocks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior neighborhood streets, though unhoused individuals and occasional panhandling can be observed along nearby major commercial arterials and toward downtown.
What Few is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet as residents commute, with light local traffic and safe conditions for walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally calm with modest foot traffic heading toward nearby business and cultural hubs.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity concentrates near the dining spots, while residential streets quiet down quickly.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and sparsely lit in residential pockets; walking alone is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
GoDurham provides regular service through the area via Route 2 and Route 9 along East Main and Liberty Streets, offering direct 5-to-10-minute connections to the central Durham Station transit hub.
Free, unrestricted street parking is common along most residential blocks, and dedicated visitor lots are available at the neighboring Golden Belt complex.
Things to do in Few
- Tour the historic mill buildings, artist studios, and galleries at the adjacent Golden Belt Campus
- Sample craft beer and play lawn games at the sprawling Hi-Wire Brewing taproom
- Pick up artisan sandwiches and specialty provisions at nearby neighborhood staple Ideal's
Local favorites
- Hi-Wire Brewing Durham Taproom · Brewery · 4.6★ (1250)Vibrant industrial taproom in the Golden Belt featuring craft brews, table tennis, and outdoor seating.
- Ideal's Sandwich and Grocery · Deli / Sandwich Shop · 4.9★ (1100)Beloved neighborhood sandwich spot serving elevated deli sandwiches on fresh-baked house focaccia.
- Two Roosters Ice Cream · Ice Cream Shop · 4.8★ (460)Cozy dessert parlor serving handcrafted ice cream with unique, rotating local flavor profiles.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.