Walkable Midtown Raleigh: Living Around North Hills

Can you park once, stroll to dinner, catch live music, and grab groceries on the way home? Around North Hills in Midtown Raleigh, that is a realistic part of life if you choose the right address. If you are considering a move, you likely want clarity on what is within an easy walk, how prices compare, and which housing options fit your lifestyle. In this guide, you will get a grounded look at walkability by the block, housing types and price ranges, transit and green spaces, and tips to help you choose with confidence. Let’s dive in.

What North Hills is today

North Hills is a mixed-use district in Midtown Raleigh that blends shopping, dining, entertainment, office towers, hotels, and several housing types in a compact core, with established residential neighborhoods around it. The area began as a 1960s mall and has been redeveloped into an amenity-rich destination under Kane Realty’s leadership. Ongoing phases, including the North Hills Innovation District, continue to add street-level retail, apartments, and office space, which strengthens the live-work-play feel in the heart of Midtown. You can get a concise overview on the official district site’s About page at Visit North Hills.

Walkability by the block

One key truth: walkability changes quickly by address. Inside the core, such as Park at North Hills Street, Walk Score examples show very high walkability, with sample scores around the mid-70s for daily errands. Just a short distance away on more residential streets like North Hills Drive, sample scores drop into the teens. The pattern is typical of a compact, mixed-use center surrounded by traditional suburban blocks.

If you live in or at the edge of the core, the “park once” lifestyle is real. Grocery, gym, fitness studios, cinema, personal services, and restaurants cluster around the Commons and Midtown Park, so many errands become short walks. The programming at the park also adds energy to weeknights and weekends, with seasonal music series and events that draw neighbors onto the lawn. For a flavor of that calendar, browse this Visit Raleigh overview of Midtown events.

For a concrete snapshot of walkability inside the core, review the sample Walk Score page for 101 Park at North Hills Street. Use it as a reference point when you compare addresses a few blocks out.

Transit and getting around

Bus service reaches North Hills, which can help for some commutes and midday trips. For example, GoRaleigh’s 24L North Crosstown Connector serves the North Hills Mall stop; you can view schedules in apps like Moovit on the 24L route page. The district also highlights on-site micro-mobility and short-distance shuttle options. For most households outside the immediate core, transit is a useful convenience rather than a full replacement for car ownership.

Housing at a glance

You will find a broad mix of homes in and around North Hills. The right fit comes down to how much you want to be inside the core versus a quieter residential street nearby.

Core high-rise and mid-rise living

Newer luxury apartment towers and mid-rise buildings anchor the core, often with concierge-like amenity packages. A standout example is The Eastern, a 36-story residential tower that represents the latest wave of high-rise living in North Hills. For a design-forward look at this product type, see the project profile in Multifamily Executive on The Eastern Residences at North Hills.

Near-core condos and townhomes

A ring of low- to mid-rise condos and purpose-built townhomes near the core appeals to buyers who want walk-friendly access without high-rise living. These often trade some square footage for location and convenience.

Surrounding single-family neighborhoods

Step back a bit from the retail streets and you will find tree-lined subdivisions with mid-century ranches and homes from the 1960s and 1970s, many of which have been renovated or expanded. Newer builds and larger replacements also appear as the area evolves. These blocks deliver a more traditional suburban feel while keeping you within a short drive of the core.

What it costs right now

Pricing varies by housing type, age, and proximity to the core. Different data sources also report different medians because they use different neighborhood boundaries and metrics. Always pair the number with the source and date.

• According to Redfin’s North Hills snapshot for January 2026, the reported median sale price is around $925,000. Recent sold examples span from high six figures to multi-million dollar properties, depending on lot size, condition, and location within the area.
• Realtor.com’s December 2025 neighborhood reporting shows a median list price of about $677,450, and further breaks North Hills into Park, Main, and Lassiter subdistricts with distinct rental and listing medians.

Those differences are normal. Redfin focuses on sold prices and a specific neighborhood polygon. Realtor.com often references current listing data and may use a slightly different boundary. That is why you will see ranges rather than a single universal figure.

Typical brackets to expect in and around North Hills:

• Condos and smaller townhomes near the core often list from the low $300,000s to the mid $600,000s, depending on age, finishes, and amenities.
• Single-family homes in nearby neighborhoods commonly range from the mid $500,000s to $1 million and above, with renovated or larger properties near the higher end.
• Newer luxury high-rise apartments and amenity-rich lease-ups skew higher on monthly rent. These buildings are designed for buyers and renters who value services, design, and proximity over maximum square footage.

Parks, trails, and weekend escapes

The green spaces around North Hills complement the walkable core and offer a quick reset when you need it.

• Midtown Park and the Commons. The programmed lawn at the center of the district hosts concerts, seasonal events, and fitness classes that make the area feel like a village on event days. Learn more on the Visit North Hills site.
• Shelley Lake and the Sertoma Arts Center. Just a short drive away, Shelley Lake features a paved loop of about two miles, family-friendly pathways, and greenway connections. Explore the city’s arts center page tied to this area on the City of Raleigh site.
• House Creek and Crabtree Creek Greenways. These nearby trails connect you to the larger Raleigh greenway network, which is ideal if you want to run or bike from your doorstep. See an overview of House Creek on Blaze Your Path.
• William B. Umstead State Park. For longer hikes and multi-use trails, Umstead is typically a 10 to 20 minute drive, depending on your exact starting point and traffic. Trail details and maps are on the NC State Parks page.

Work-life balance in Midtown

North Hills is not just retail and restaurants. It is also a growing employment node. Recent leasing wins in the North Hills Innovation District, including Parexel’s headquarters lease at Tower 5, reinforce the area’s daytime population and support more amenities within walking distance. You can read the announcement on the Kane Realty news release.

For many residents, the midtown location shortens some Triangle commutes. I-440 access is close, and typical drive times to downtown Raleigh are often in the 10 to 20 minute range depending on origin and traffic. If commute timing is critical, test your route during the hours you plan to travel.

Practical buyer tips

Make the most of your search with a few checks that pay off.

• Verify school assignments by address through the Wake County Public School System’s official lookup, since assignments vary by exact street.
• Compare Walk Score examples for a core address versus one a few blocks out to see how daily errands change.
• Check a recent event calendar for Midtown Park to understand how often the area activates at night and on weekends.
• Review parking details for your building or a target single-family address, including guest policies and any garage or street options.
• Test commute routes at your expected travel times and note alternatives, like 24L bus service for specific trips.
• Review recent crime mapping for your target block through the City of Raleigh’s public tools. Safety perceptions can be very local.

A sample park-once day in North Hills

If you live in or right next to the core, your Saturday might look like this:

1. Coffee in the district, then a quick grocery run.
2. A midday class at a fitness studio or a short stroll through the Commons.
3. Late afternoon music on the lawn at Midtown Park during a seasonal series.
4. Dinner on a patio, followed by a movie or bowling, then a short walk home.

For a sense of what is in the mix, browse the district overview at Visit North Hills.

How North Hills compares

North Hills offers a suburban-urban hybrid. It delivers a denser, more amenity-rich experience than most North Raleigh subdivisions, yet it remains more car-friendly in the surrounding blocks than Downtown or Glenwood South. The feel differs from the Village District’s historic character, though both offer clusters of shops and dining within an easy walk of nearby homes. If you want a quick comparison framework, look at four metrics by neighborhood: a sample Walk Score for a central address, typical home types, a recent median from a cited source and date, and commute time to downtown or RTP.

Ready to explore North Hills?

If you want a walkable lifestyle with design-forward homes and a true midtown location, North Hills is an excellent place to focus. We can help you narrow to the right block, compare value across housing types, and stage or present your home to stand out if you are selling. For tailored guidance, connect with Michelle Mundra. Request a Luxury Home Valuation.

FAQs

What makes North Hills walkable compared to other Raleigh areas?

• The compact core puts grocery, fitness, dining, entertainment, and events within short walks of the Commons and Midtown Park, while nearby blocks transition to more traditional residential streets.

How much do homes cost around North Hills right now?

• Expect condos and smaller townhomes from the low $300,000s to mid $600,000s, and nearby single-family homes from the mid $500,000s to $1 million and above, with exact pricing varying by proximity, size, and condition.

Is transit realistic for daily life near North Hills?

• Bus routes like GoRaleigh’s 24L help for targeted trips, and micro-mobility options exist in the core, but most households still benefit from a car, especially outside the immediate mixed-use center.

Are there parks and trails close to North Hills?

• Yes, you have Midtown Park in the core, Shelley Lake’s paved loop and arts center a short drive away, nearby House Creek and Crabtree Creek Greenways, and longer hikes at Umstead State Park within quick driving distance.

How does North Hills compare to Downtown or the Village District?

• North Hills balances walkability and suburban convenience, with a denser core than most suburbs but a more car-friendly feel outside the center than Downtown; it shares the walk-shop-dine concept with the Village District but has a newer, mixed-use character.

Which schools serve North Hills addresses?

• School assignments vary by exact address; confirm your base elementary, middle, and high school using the Wake County Public School System’s address lookup before making decisions.