Is Lakewood safe?
Durham, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Lakewood as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Lakewood
“Go with care. Lakewood is a vibrant, culturally rich neighborhood with popular community spots, but visitors should remain vigilant regarding property crime and petty theft, particularly after dark.”
Local news in southwest Durham regularly notes sporadic property crimes, catalytic converter thefts, and occasional shots-fired calls along mixed-commercial corridors.
About the area
Lakewood is an eclectic, evolving Durham neighborhood centered around Chapel Hill Road, known for its creative reuse hubs, diverse dining, and historic bungalows. While ongoing investment has boosted local commerce, socioeconomic contrasts remain evident block by block.
- Eclectic Arts
- Community-Oriented
- Historic Bungalows
- Transitional
Walking and biking in Lakewood
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 64/100
Chapel Hill Road has intermittent bike accommodations, but cyclists can connect via local residential streets to Duke University paths and the nearby American Tobacco Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Vibrant grassroots community anchors like The Scrap Exchange creative district
- Rising homeownership and steady reinvestment in historic bungalow housing stock
- Convenient central location minutes from Duke University and Downtown Durham
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle theft rates remain higher than state and national medians
- Pockets of poverty and socioeconomic disparities persist across adjacent blocks
- Pedestrian lighting and sidewalk continuity are uneven away from the main commercial corridor
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, with occasional individuals seeking assistance near major bus stops, convenience stores, and the shopping center plazas along Chapel Hill Road.
What Lakewood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and welcoming as locals walk dogs and pick up coffee along Chapel Hill Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy with shoppers and diners around Lakewood Shopping Center; generally pleasant and safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Lively around neighborhood eateries and taprooms, though side streets become quiet and dimly lit.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Foot traffic drops sharply, and isolated commercial plazas can feel vulnerable to opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
GoDurham provides local bus service through the neighborhood via Routes 7 and 10, connecting directly to Durham Station downtown; there is no local rail transit.
Parking is abundant and free in the large surface lots of Lakewood Shopping Center, and street parking on residential side roads is typically straightforward.
Things to do in Lakewood
- Browse unique secondhand treasures, art supplies, and local crafts at The Scrap Exchange.
- Enjoy artisanal churros and ethically sourced coffee on the outdoor patio at Cocoa Cinnamon.
- Watch a soccer match over craft beer and sandwiches at The Boot Room.
Local favorites
- The Scrap Exchange · Thrift & Creative Reuse Center · 4.7★ (2350)A massive nonprofit creative reuse center filled with reclaimed materials, vintage goods, and art supplies.
- Cocoa Cinnamon · Coffee Shop & Churrería · 4.7★ (1600)Beloved neighborhood cafe serving distinctive spiced coffee drinks, hot chocolate, and fresh churros.
- The Boot Room · Pub & Sandwich Shop · 4.6★ (550)Lively soccer-themed pub with gourmet sandwiches, craft drafts, and an adjacent bottle shop.
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.