North Durham neighborhood guide

Willowhaven

Willowhaven, Durham NC: neighborhood guide and homes for sale

Caul Group Residential, brokered by eXp Realty

Welcome to Willowhaven, a north Durham neighborhood built around the golf course now called Umstead Pines, founded in 1957 as Willowhaven Country Club. Here is where it is, the golf club, what the homes are like, recent sale prices and the assigned schools. This guide covers the neighborhood as a whole.

Willowhaven is a north Durham neighborhood in ZIP 27712, built around the golf course now called Umstead Pines, which was founded in 1957 as Willowhaven Country Club (Umstead Pines). Durham County records show about 287 single-family homes on lots of about 0.76 acres median, with a median of about 2,352 heated square feet. The 7 recorded sales from October 2025 through September 2026 had a median of $500,500.

Where Willowhaven is

Willowhaven has Durham addresses in the 27712 ZIP code. Streets include Russell Road, Inverness Drive, Mont Haven Drive, Willowhaven Drive, Tavistock Drive, Lake Vista Drive, North Highland Drive, Continental Drive and Troon Court (Durham County property records). County records show the sections Willowhaven, Willowhaven North and Heather Ridge at Willowhaven.

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

  • Duke University Hospital: 7.2 miles
  • Duke Chapel: 7.9 miles
  • American Tobacco Campus: 9.4 miles
  • The Streets at Southpoint: 17.1 miles
  • Research Triangle Park: 18.5 miles
  • RDU Airport: 22.5 miles

Umstead Pines golf club

Umstead Pines, at 253 Country Club Drive, has an 18-hole George Cobb course with four sets of tees, begun in 1957. The golf course is open to the public, and the club offers social, activity and full golf memberships, a pool with a swim team, tennis and dining in a mid-century clubhouse (Umstead Pines). Owning a home in Willowhaven does not by itself make you a member; see do you have to join the club?.

Homes in Willowhaven

Across the 287 homes (Durham County property records, November 2026):

  • Heated area: 1,799 square feet at the 10th percentile, 2,352 median, 3,238 at the 90th percentile
  • Lot size: 0.48 acres at the 10th percentile, 0.76 median, 1.35 at the 90th percentile

The county parcel data used here does not include year built (Durham County property records). The golf course dates to 1957 (Umstead Pines). Ask for the build year and permit history for a specific home.

Recent sale prices

Durham County records show 7 recorded sales from October 2025 through September 2026, with a median of $500,500, a low of $204,000 and a high of $750,000 (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 Willowhaven in county ownership records (Durham County property records). Check the deed and any recorded restrictions for a specific home.

The Willowhaven market right now

For the 27712 ZIP code, which covers a large part of north Durham, Redfin reports for the three months ending September 2026:

  • Median sale price: $429,874, down 3.7% year over year
  • Median days on market: 33, compared with 29 a year earlier
  • Homes sold in September: 74, compared with 80 a year earlier
  • Sale-to-list price: 98.6%
  • Homes sold above list price: 17.8%
  • Homes with a price drop: 41.3%

What it means: the 27712 median was down about 4% from a year ago, and about 41% of homes had a price drop. Willowhaven sells above the ZIP median, so recent sales inside the neighborhood matter more.

Assigned schools

Durham Public Schools assigns by address. Of 50 sampled Willowhaven addresses, 44 were in the base zones for Eno Valley Elementary and Northern High and 6 for Hillandale Elementary and Riverside High. All 50 were in the Carrington Middle base zone (Durham City-County GIS). Check a specific address with the Durham address lookup.

Things to do nearby

  • Golf, swimming and dining at Umstead Pines.
  • Duke University and Duke Chapel, about 7.9 miles away.
  • Downtown Durham and the American Tobacco Campus, about 9.4 miles away.
  • Duke University Hospital, about 7.2 miles away.

Buying in Willowhaven: what to check

  • Build year, roof, HVAC and major systems.
  • Well, septic or sewer and water service for the specific lot.
  • Lot size, slope, trees and drainage.
  • Club membership options and costs if you want golf or the pool.
  • School assignment by exact address.

See our buyer services page for how we help buyers.

Selling in Willowhaven: what buyers ask about

  • Recent comparable sales, which are few.
  • Updates to the kitchen, baths and major systems.
  • Lot size and golf course views.
  • Utilities and any septic records.
  • Drive times to Duke and downtown Durham.

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

Willowhaven FAQs

Where is Willowhaven in Durham?

Willowhaven is in north Durham, in ZIP 27712, around the Umstead Pines golf course, about 7.9 miles by road from Duke Chapel.

How many homes are in Willowhaven?

Durham County records show about 287 single-family homes in Willowhaven.

What do homes in Willowhaven cost?

Durham County records show 7 sales from October 2025 through September 2026, with a median of $500,500 and a range of $204,000 to $750,000.

Is there a golf course in Willowhaven?

Yes. Umstead Pines, founded in 1957 as Willowhaven Country Club, has an 18-hole George Cobb course that is open to the public, with memberships available.

How big are the lots in Willowhaven?

Lots are about 0.76 acres at the median, from 0.48 acres at the 10th percentile to 1.35 acres at the 90th percentile.

Is there an HOA in Willowhaven?

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

Which schools serve Willowhaven?

Sampled addresses were in the base zones for Eno Valley or Hillandale Elementary, Carrington Middle and Northern or Riverside High. Confirm any address with the Durham address lookup.

Thinking of selling in Willowhaven?

Willowhaven homes vary a lot in size, age and lot, and few sell each year. With so few sales, pricing takes careful comparable work from Willowhaven and nearby north Durham 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, Croasdaile, Treyburn, Trinity Park and Downtown Durham.