North Hills, Raleigh NC: Neighborhood Guide and Homes for Sale

Caul Group Residential, brokered by eXp Realty

North Hills is Raleigh's Midtown: an open-air district of shops, restaurants, offices and apartment buildings at Six Forks Road and I-440, about 4.6 miles from downtown, surrounded by streets of 1960s ranch and split-level homes. Redfin's wider North Hills area had a median sale price of $824,769 in the three months ending September 2026, and the 27609 ZIP code had a median of $614,819.

Here is what to know about the district, the homes around it, the market and how to check schools.

Where North Hills is

The North Hills district sits at the Six Forks Road and I-440 (Beltline) interchange in Midtown Raleigh, ZIP code 27609 (LocalWiki Raleigh). Six Forks Road splits it into two parts. The district's main address is 4321 Lassiter at North Hills Avenue.

By road, the district is about 4.6 miles from the NC State Capitol downtown, 11.4 miles from RDU Airport and 16.3 miles from the Research Triangle Foundation in RTP (OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026). Traffic on the Beltline changes those times, so test your drive at rush hour.

A short history

North Hills opened in 1960 as a strip mall. In 1967 it became an enclosed mall, the first two-story indoor mall between Washington, DC and Atlanta. Kane Realty bought the site in 2001, and the new open-air North Hills opened in 2004 (North Hills). It has kept growing since.

The North Hills district: shopping, dining and things to do

North Hills mixes daily errands with places to go out. Its owner lists (North Hills):

  • Everyday needs: groceries, banks and a pharmacy.
  • Fitness and self-care: spas, salons and a 60,000-square-foot gym.
  • Entertainment: a 14-screen cinema, a bowling alley and tap rooms.
  • Shopping and dining: department stores, boutiques, cafés and sit-down restaurants.
  • Outdoor space: Midtown Park and other gathering spaces.

Getting around inside the district: North Hills offers shuttle rides daily from 8 AM to 8 PM through Kane Public Safety, plus bus stops, bike racks and EV chargers marked on its map (North Hills).

Moving to North Hills: what is close by

North Hills is about 8 minutes from downtown Raleigh. The open-air district puts daily errands and nights out in one place: a two-story Harris Teeter, the Renaissance hotel, boutiques and restaurants. In warm months the central lawn hosts concerts, and in cool months the firepits stay busy.

On Saturdays from April to October, the Midtown Farmers' Market sets up at North Hills. For self-care, our guide names Salon Blu and North Hills Nail Spa, both listed in the North Hills directory (North Hills, Oct 2026).

To see what is closer to downtown, read our Inside the Beltline guide.

Home styles around North Hills

North Hills has two very different kinds of housing: apartments in the district, and single-family homes on the streets around it.

Apartments in the district

The district's newer residential buildings are mostly apartments for rent. The Eastern Residences at North Hills, at 4204 Six Forks Road, opened in 2022 with 36 stories and 376 residences (Kane Realty). St. Albans Lofts offers studio to 3-bedroom apartments (North Hills).

Single-family streets around North Hills

The best-known neighborhood here is North Hills Estates, begun in 1960 by developer Ed Richards next to his North Hills Shopping Center. A 2006 study for the Raleigh Historic Districts Commission calls it the largest pre-1965 subdivision in Raleigh. When finished in the 1960s, it had 325 homes, a clubhouse, a park, a school and the shopping center.

The homes are a mix of Ranches, Split-Levels, Split-Foyers and a few Contemporary designs, set along curving streets (Raleigh Historic Districts Commission study, 2006). Updates and additions vary from one house to the next, so check each home's record and ask what has been done.

The North Hills market right now

Redfin draws its "North Hills" area much wider than the district. It reaches streets as far as Lake Boone Trail and Saint Marys Street. Treat these as area-wide numbers.

Redfin's North Hills area, three months ending September 2026:

  • Median sale price: $824,769 (down 3.0% year over year).
  • Median price per square foot: $306 (down 18.0%).
  • Median days on market: 43 days (44 days a year earlier).
  • Homes sold in September 2026: 99 (93 in September 2025).
  • Sale-to-list price: 97.9%. About 15.4% of homes sold above list, and 34.4% of listings had a price drop.

ZIP code 27609, same period (Redfin):

  • Median sale price: $614,819 (up 0.5%).
  • Median days on market: 34 days (36 days a year earlier).
  • Homes sold in September 2026: 107 (101 in September 2025).
  • Sale-to-list price: 98.8%. About 20.9% of homes sold above list.

What it means: North Hills covers many kinds of homes, so medians swing with the mix. About 1 in 5 homes in 27609 sold above list, while about 1 in 3 listings took a price cut. The right price for a specific home comes from close, recent sales of similar homes.

Assigned schools

It depends on the exact address. Use the WCPSS assignment lookup and choose the 2026-27 school year. Some Wake County schools are capped. Learn how caps and overflow schools work in What Is a Capped School in Wake County?

Parks, shopping and dining nearby

  • North Hills Park, a 32-acre City of Raleigh park at 100 Chowan Circle, opened in 1962. It has 6 pickleball courts, a youth baseball field, playgrounds and a picnic shelter (City of Raleigh).
  • Midtown Park and the district's other open spaces (North Hills).
  • The North Hills district itself, for groceries, dining, a movie theater and shopping.

Buying in North Hills: what to check

  • Year built and updates. On the older single-family streets, check the county record and ask for dates on the roof, HVAC, windows and any additions.
  • Schools. Assignments differ by street here. Check the exact address.
  • HOA, if any. Confirm whether any HOA applies to the address you're looking at.
  • Noise and traffic. Homes near Six Forks Road, the Beltline or the district may hear more traffic. Visit at different times of day.
  • Your commute. Drive it at rush hour, especially if you'll use the Beltline.

Selling in North Hills: what buyers ask about

  • Distance to the district. Buyers often ask how far the home is from North Hills' shops and restaurants. Give the real distance.
  • Updates with dates. For a 1960s ranch or split-level, a clear list of what's new is one of your best selling tools.
  • Schools. Have the 2026-27 assignment for your address ready, from the WCPSS lookup.
  • Price. About a third of 27609 listings took a price cut in the period above (Redfin). Price it right from day one.

North Hills FAQs

Is North Hills walkable?

Inside the district, yes. North Hills was built with pedestrian walkways, and groceries, dining and shops sit close together (North Hills). The wider area is a different story: Redfin gives its larger North Hills area a Walk Score of 30, so most homes around the district still need a car for daily errands.

What kinds of homes are in North Hills?

The district has apartment buildings, including the 36-story Eastern Residences. The streets around it have single-family homes, including 1960s Ranches, Split-Levels and Split-Foyers in North Hills Estates (Raleigh Historic Districts Commission study, 2006).

Is North Hills inside the Beltline?

The North Hills district sits just outside it. I-440, the Beltline, forms the district's southern edge at Six Forks Road (LocalWiki Raleigh). Some nearby homes are inside the Beltline, so check the exact address.

How far is North Hills from downtown Raleigh?

About 4.6 miles by road from the district to the NC State Capitol (OpenStreetMap routing, October 2026). RDU Airport is about 11.4 miles away.

Which schools serve North Hills addresses?

It depends on the exact address. Use the WCPSS assignment lookup and choose the 2026-27 school year.

What are North Hills homes selling for right now?

In the three months ending September 2026, Redfin's wider North Hills area had a median sale price of $824,769, down 3.0% from a year earlier. ZIP code 27609 had a median of $614,819, up 0.5%, with a median of 34 days on market.

What should I know about North Hills if I'm moving to Raleigh?

North Hills puts shopping, dining and a two-story Harris Teeter close together, about 8 minutes from downtown Raleigh. To check public schools for an exact address, use the WCPSS assignment lookup.

Thinking of selling in North Hills?

We are a team of about 50 agents. Caul Group Residential's 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: Raleigh, Inside the Beltline and our Raleigh agents.