Morehead Hill, Durham NC: Neighborhood Guide and Homes for Sale

Caul Group Residential, brokered by eXp Realty

Morehead Hill is a historic neighborhood just south and west of downtown Durham, named for banker Eugene Morehead and described in its National Register nomination as one of Durham's first suburbs (North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office). Durham County records show about 196 homes inside the historic district boundaries, with a median of about 1,894 heated square feet. The 9 recorded sales from October 2025 through September 2026 had a median of $705,000.

Here is where Morehead Hill is, its history, the historic district rules, what the homes are like, recent sale prices and the assigned schools.

Where Morehead Hill is

The expanded historic district is bounded by the Durham Freeway (NC 147) on the northeast, West Chapel Hill Street on the north, the back of the lots on the west side of Arnette Avenue on the west and South Duke Street on the east, with the south edge centered on Wells Street, the northern edge of Forest Hills (North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office). Homes are inside the City of Durham in ZIPs 27701 and 27707. Streets include Arnette Avenue, Shepherd Street, Vickers Avenue, Wells Street, Yancey Street and Parker Street (Durham County property records).

Road distances from the center of the neighborhood (OpenStreetMap routing, November 2026):

  • American Tobacco Campus: 0.8 miles
  • Duke Chapel: 1.6 miles
  • Duke University Hospital: 2.6 miles
  • The Streets at Southpoint: 8.9 miles
  • Research Triangle Park: 9.6 miles
  • RDU Airport: 13.8 miles

A short history

William Gaston Vickers sold parcels of his farm for houses over five decades, beginning in the 1870s. Among his first buyers were banker Eugene Morehead and industrialist George W. Watts, whose adjoining estates set the tone for the area. At the north end, land held by the Proctor heirs was developed after the trolley line arrived (North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office).

The original nomination describes about fourteen blocks of tree-lined streets laid out in a grid, with stone curbs and brick gutters, and houses from late Victorian styles to period revivals and bungalows. Greystone and the John Sprunt Hill House are individually listed on the National Register. A later boundary increase added about eight blocks on the west and south sides, with 96 contributing houses built from about 1905 to about 1955 (North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office).

Historic district rules

Morehead Hill is also one of Durham's eight designated local historic district. In a local historic district, a certificate of appropriateness is required for exterior changes to any property (Durham City-County Planning). The local district boundary is not the same as the National Register boundary, so check a specific address on Durham Maps before you buy or plan work.

Homes in Morehead Hill

Across the 196 homes in the National Register district boundaries (Durham County property records, November 2026):

  • 180 single-family homes and 16 duplexes
  • Heated area: 1,179 square feet at the 10th percentile, 1,894 median, 2,991 at the 90th percentile
  • Lot size: 0.12 acres at the 10th percentile, 0.21 median, 0.40 at the 90th percentile

The county parcel data used here does not include year built, so we rely on the historic district nominations for the age of the homes: the original district has houses from the 1890s onward and looked much as it did around 1930 when it was surveyed, and the boundary increase houses were built from about 1905 to about 1955 (North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office).

Recent sale prices

Durham County records show 9 recorded sales from October 2025 through September 2026, with a median of $705,000, a low of $240,000 and a high of $830,000 (Durham County property records). With this few sales, one home can move the median a lot, so use these as a rough range.

HOA

We found no homeowners association for Morehead Hill in county ownership records (Durham County property records). Check the deed and any recorded restrictions for a specific home.

The Morehead Hill market right now

For the 27707 ZIP code, which covers part of Morehead Hill and a large part of southwest Durham, Redfin reports for the three months ending September 2026:

  • Median sale price: $454,866, down 7.4% year over year
  • Median days on market: 38, compared with 34 a year earlier
  • Homes sold in September: 113, compared with 108 a year earlier
  • Sale-to-list price: 97.9%
  • Homes sold above list price: 15.3%
  • Homes with a price drop: 39.3%

What it means: the 27707 median was down about 7% from a year ago, and about 39% of homes had a price drop. The ZIP mixes many neighborhoods and home types, and Morehead Hill sells above its median, so recent sales inside the neighborhood matter more.

Assigned schools

Durham Public Schools assigns by address. All 50 sampled Morehead Hill addresses were in the base zones for Morehead Elementary, Lakewood Middle and Jordan High (Durham City-County GIS). Check a specific address with the Durham address lookup.

Things to do nearby

  • The American Tobacco Campus and Durham Performing Arts Center, about 0.8 miles away.
  • Downtown Durham restaurants and shops.
  • Duke University and Duke Chapel, about 1.6 miles away.
  • Forest Hills Park, just south.

Buying in Morehead Hill: what to check

  • Whether the home is in the local historic district and what needs a certificate of appropriateness.
  • Age and condition of systems in a house that may be more than 100 years old.
  • Foundation, crawl space and drainage.
  • Rental rules and condition if you are looking at a duplex.
  • School assignment by exact address.

See our buyer services page for how we help buyers.

Selling in Morehead Hill: what buyers ask about

  • Recent comparable sales, which are few.
  • Updates to the kitchen, baths and major systems.
  • Original details that have been kept.
  • Past historic district approvals for work on the home.
  • Walking distance to downtown and the American Tobacco Campus.

See how we sell homes, or start with a home value estimate.

Morehead Hill FAQs

Where is Morehead Hill in Durham?

Morehead Hill is just south and west of downtown Durham, between West Chapel Hill Street and Wells Street and west of South Duke Street, about 0.8 miles by road from the American Tobacco Campus.

How many homes are in Morehead Hill?

Durham County records show about 196 homes inside the National Register district boundaries: 180 single-family homes and 16 duplexes.

What do homes in Morehead Hill cost?

Durham County records show 9 sales from October 2025 through September 2026, with a median of $705,000 and a range of $240,000 to $830,000.

How did Morehead Hill get its name?

It is named for banker Eugene Morehead, one of the first buyers of land from William Gaston Vickers's farm, per the National Register nomination.

Is Morehead Hill a historic district?

Yes. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, and it is also one of Durham's eight local historic districts, where exterior changes need a certificate of appropriateness.

Is there an HOA in Morehead Hill?

We found no HOA in county records. Check the deed and recorded restrictions for a specific home.

Which schools serve Morehead Hill?

Sampled addresses were in the base zones for Morehead Elementary, Lakewood Middle and Jordan High. Confirm any address with the Durham address lookup.

Thinking of selling in Morehead Hill?

Morehead Hill has early 1900s cottages, bungalows and some of Durham's largest historic houses, and few sell each year. With so few sales, pricing takes careful comparable work from Morehead Hill and nearby neighborhoods. We price from recent sales of similar homes.

Caul Group Residential is the #1 Resale Team in the Triangle. Our office is at 201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 200, Cary, NC 27511. RealTrends Verified 2026 (based on 2025 sales) ranks our team, "Caul Team," #1 in Raleigh by sides and by volume. See the RealTrends profile. We have 5.0 stars on Zillow from 1,200+ reviews (Oct 2026). Read the reviews.

More on the area: Durham, Downtown Durham, Forest Hills, Trinity Park, Old West Durham and Brightleaf at the Park.