Carrboro Market Report

Carrboro, North Carolina is as cool as it is charming.  A small town (less than five square miles) that’s litterally right around the corner from Chapel Hill.  Carrboro is known for its walkability, art galleries, interesting eateries, world-class Farmers Market and Weaver Street Market, a fantastic co-op grocery store/coffee shop, eateray & gathering place.  

With a population of just under 20,000, Carrboro is the kind of town where you can still find an old-fashioned meat counter, a fish vendor who brings in fresh catches from the North Carolina coast, and shops devoted to used books and vinyl records.

Carrboro residents love the village ambience, yet the town’s proximity to Chapel Hill and, a few miles further, Durham, creates a more metropolitan mindset than you’ll find in most small Southern towns.

As for real estate, there are some fascinating one-of-a kind properties in Carrboro.  How about a 100-year-old mill house to call your own.

The Carrboro Merchants Associationlaunched an excellent web site highlighting all that Carrboro has to offer, including a wonderful map of the town and information about local restaurants and stores as well as upcoming events. This is an excellent resource for local information.

Dining and Shopping

Whether you’re a foodie, a “locavore”, or a great home cook, you’ll love Carrboro’s eclectic food scene. On weekend mornings, the line leading to Elmo’s Diner can be so long that the staff serves free coffee while you wait.  At Tyler’s Restaurant, owned by former NYC Ballet dancer Tyler Huntington, has a large menu that mixes American, European and bistro food. You can find great authentic Chinese, sushi, and Mexican or farm-to-table at Tandem?  Carrboro has it all.

On Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings, you won’t want to miss the amazing Farmers Market.  Carr Mill Mall, located within th eold wood and heavy timbers of a former cotton mill, offers art galleries and retail shops featuring unique, high-quality merchandise.  At the North Carolina Crafts Gallery, you can browse pottery,hand- blown glass, metalwork, jewelry, toys, folk art, fiber arts, and garden sculpture created by over 500 North Carolina artists. 

If your shopping preference lean toward more well-known retailers, Chapel Hill and Durham are a quick drive away.  Both Durham and Chapel Hill also have wonderful, creative places to shop and eat.

Parks and Recreation

Despite its small size, Carrboro boasts 10 parks, from large community varieties to  small, neighborhood parks and play areas. Henry Anderson Community Park is home to lighted baseball fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts. 

Annual events give Carrboro residents a host of opportunities to get together, such as the  Kite Fly, the Fishing Rodeo (free hot dogs included), a Community Dinner, the Fourth of July Celebration, and the very popular Halloween Carnival. 

For fun and cultural opportunities on a  larger scale,  the nearby Durham Athletic Park, home of the Durham Bulls, is a short drive away.  So is the celebrated Durham Performing Arts Center, which hosts over 200 performances a year including touring Broadway productions, high-profile concerts and comedy events, family shows, and othe American Dance Festival.

Living

One of the best things about living in Carrboro is Weaver Street Market, a worker-and consumer-owned cooperative located on Main Street that serves up natual and organic food with a focus on local and fair trade products.  It’s also a gathering place for events, which is why locals call it Carrboro’s “front yard.” From Spring to Fall, Weaver Street Market hosts free music events on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings on the lawn.  

Carrboro also presents a Film Festival, Music Festival and Poets Festival Weekend each year.  And, together, Carrboro and Chapel Hill hold, “2nd Friday Art Walks,” every month to showcase the two towns’ art galleries and and museum exhibitions.

On Saturdays and Wednesdays, Carrboro residents mingle with folks throughout the Triangle region at the Farmers’ Market by Town Hall, considered by many as one of the best Farmers’ Markets in the State.  Nearly 100 vendors gather to sell seasonal produce, meats, cakes, plants, cheeses and hand-made craft items. 

Schools, Transport, and Hospitals

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public Schools consistently rank as the best in North Carolina in terms of graduation rate, test scores, and percentage of college-bound seniors.  Chapel Hill  also offers private school opportunities for grades K-8. 

For public transportation, you can ride any  Carrboro/Chapel Hill city buses are free. Thanks to the region’s mild climate, bicycle paths are well used year-round.  As for air travel, RDU International Airport is just 16 miles away. 

Carrboro’s neighbor, Durham, aka the “City of Medicine,” is home to 300 medical and health-related companies and medical practices, including the Internationally  acclaimed Duke Medical Center and Lenox Baker Children’s Hospital. Even closer is the equally renowned UNC Medical Center and the Lineburger Cancer Center in Chapel Hill.

If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, give us a call at  (919) 697-5014 or send us an email.  Let’s explore your options and determine the best time for you to make a move.

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