Is The Downs safe?
Durham, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates The Downs as “Go”.
Gogo's take on The Downs
“Go. The Downs is a peaceful, well-established residential enclave in Southwest Durham that presents very few safety concerns for visitors. Standard suburban precautions against vehicle break-ins are all that is typically required.”
About the area
The Downs is an established residential neighborhood in southwest Durham characterized by townhomes, single-family houses, and mature tree cover. It offers a quiet suburban setting positioned conveniently between downtown Durham, Duke University, and Chapel Hill.
- Quiet Residential
- Tree-Lined
- Suburban Enclave
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in The Downs
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There is no bike-share program in the immediate vicinity, but cyclists can reach the Third Fork Creek Trail and the American Tobacco Trail via connecting neighborhood collector roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Substantially lower violent crime rates than Durham citywide averages
- Well-maintained properties with strong occupancy and established homeowner communities
- Close proximity to Southpoint, Duke University, and Research Triangle Park employment hubs
Cons
- Isolated and car-dependent with virtually no walkable commercial amenities inside the neighborhood
- Susceptible to periodic opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked car trespassing
- Limited street lighting along some internal drives and cul-de-sacs at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not an issue within the interior residential streets of The Downs, with occasional panhandling limited to major commercial intersections along nearby thoroughfares.
What The Downs is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe, with neighbors walking dogs and minimal commuter cut-through traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and secure, with routine delivery vehicles and residents out and about.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful atmosphere with low ambient noise and comfortable conditions for neighborhood strolls.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet; while violent crime is rare, low foot traffic means visitors should remain alert and lock vehicles.
Transit, parking and getting around
GoDurham provides bus transit along surrounding arterials like MLK Jr. Parkway and University Drive (such as Route 10), though service frequency is modest and Durham does not have passenger rail.
Parking is straightforward and free, consisting of dedicated driveway spaces, assigned townhome spots, and open visitor parking on residential roads.
Things to do in The Downs
- Walk or jog along the peaceful, tree-lined residential loop streets
- Access the nearby Third Fork Creek Trail for extended running and nature walks
- Explore local dining and craft coffee along the nearby Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard corridor
Local favorites
- Namu · Korean Restaurant & Coffee Shop · 4.6★ (2150)A popular indoor-outdoor cafe and beer garden serving Korean fare, coffee, and craft draft beers in a bamboo garden setting.
- Guglhupf Bakery, Cafe & Restaurant · German Bakery & Bistro · 4.6★ (2850)An eclectic German-inspired bakery and cafe offering artisanal breads, pastries, and patio dining.
- Foster's Market · Cafe & Specialty Market · 4.5★ (1650)A long-running Durham institution featuring scratch-made Southern comfort foods, sandwiches, and pantry goods.
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.