Is Five Oaks safe?
Durham, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Five Oaks as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Five Oaks
“Go. Five Oaks is a quiet, established residential neighborhood in Southwest Durham that is generally very safe for visitors and residents. Violent crime is rare, and basic situational awareness regarding locking vehicle doors is usually all that is needed.”
About the area
Five Oaks is a planned residential enclave characterized by mature tree-lined streets, townhomes, single-family houses, and a central community club. Situated just off US 15-501, it offers a tranquil suburban atmosphere with fast highway access to both Duke University and Chapel Hill.
- Suburban Retreat
- Quiet & Residential
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Five Oaks
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no public bike-share hubs in Five Oaks, and while internal residential streets are low-stress for cycling, arterial roads lack dedicated bike lanes to connect directly to the American Tobacco Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to broader municipal Durham averages
- Stable residential fabric with high household income and educated workforce
- Close proximity to health centers, shopping amenities, and major Research Triangle employers
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins in condo and townhome parking areas
- Heavily car-dependent layout with poor pedestrian connectivity to adjacent shopping centers
- Limited municipal street lighting along interior residential loops and cul-de-sacs
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not present within the Five Oaks residential neighborhood, though occasional panhandling is seen at major traffic intersections along the commercial US 15-501 corridor.
What Five Oaks is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Pleasant and active with residents jogging, walking pets, and commuting via neighborhood collector streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and peaceful within the subdivision, with minimal through-traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential winding down, feeling very safe for neighborhood walks before dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Subdued and dark due to sparse street illumination, but generally free from criminal activity or street disturbances.
Transit, parking and getting around
GoDurham provides bus transit along peripheral corridors such as Route 10 on University Drive and Route 20 on MLK Jr. Parkway, but interior neighborhood service is absent; there is no passenger rail or BRT.
Parking is exceptionally easy with free designated driveways, lot spaces for multi-family complexes, and open curbside parking on residential streets.
Things to do in Five Oaks
- Play tennis, pickleball, or swim at the private-membership Five Oaks Club
- Browse local shopping and dining options at the adjacent Patterson Place and South Square centers
- Take a short drive to hike the nearby forested trails along New Hope Creek
Local favorites
- Five Oaks Club · Recreation Center · 4.5★ (65)A neighborhood community club offering tennis courts, swimming pools, and social clubhouse amenities.
- Bleu Olive · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)Upscale Greek and Mediterranean bistro serving fresh seafood and classic regional dishes nearby.
- Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant · German Bakery & Cafe · 4.6★ (3250)Popular nearby destination known for artisan breads, European pastries, and outdoor patio dining.
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.