UHill Walls is one of the largest collections of public art in the southeast. More than 40 murals by local, national, and international artists are inspired in part by Durham’s history and well-known faces like the “Queen of Funk,” Betty Davis, painted by Scott Nurkin, and fashion icon André Leon Talley painted by Tiffany Baker.
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Hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Thursday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday: Closed
I'm going to take the time to write as detailed a review as I can, because I can't express enough how much I appreciate this apartment area. That doesn't mean I'm going to exclude all of the downsides; I'll be as thorough as possible so as to make sure the review is helpful for people looking for a good place to stay.
To start off, I think the apartment is beautifully designed. Ask and get shown around the premises and some units and you'll find that the apartments have high ceilings, large windows, and a clean and minimalist design all-around. Even though we're only staying in a one-bedroom, the unit is generally very spacious and pleasant I think.
Another thing that is really important for us is an apartment with good build quality. We've stayed in numerous places during our graduate education across the country where the apartments might LOOK well-built, but on closer inspection will reveal extremely poor build quality. Thin, cheap walls and bad windows have been a recurrent problem since that means more noise and sometimes maybe even cold or hot air seeping in and out of the unit. Uhills I think has a very sturdy build in general; we generally can't hear anything from our neighbors even though we might come across some noise occasionally in the hallways, and the windows are I think vacuum insulated windows that dampen outside noise and help maintain indoor temperatures. The floors are scratch-proof. Superb.
Another criterion that is super important for us is sunlight and air circulation. I can't guarantee our experience in this respect will hold for everyone else, since I think we were somewhat lucky. We got a unit on the top floor with windows facing West, which means we can see beautiful sunsets every evening. It's pretty breezy for our unit as well, so we can circulate air efficiently when we open the windows. We get a lot of light in our particular unit, which is really crucial for us. If this is important for you too, I highly recommend you contact the office to check on availability.
Another absolutely crucial criterion is general cleanliness and management. I think it's probably safe to say that this is perhaps the CLEANEST apartment premises in the entire Durham area, no joke. But I can't complain at all about cleanliness, because apartments tend to attract all kinds of pests if not properly maintained. This is as clean as it can possibly get, I swear.
The staff!!! From the moment you contact them about wanting to look into some units and for various kinds of other requests, they're the most responsive, considerate, REASONABLE, credible people that we've ever come across. Mary is an ANGEL. I love how the staff are serious about making sure the residents all respect each other and the shared spaces in particular.
Another important criterion for us is proximity to amenities and especially our workplace at Duke. Unfortunately, the apartments are far from grocery stores and the university if you intend on walking; but otherwise, everything is pretty close by car. By car, the university is a good 5-10 minutes away, there's several grocery stores nearby too. Downtown is also very close by car.
Also, the entire unit is very, very secure. There are gated parking lots all around, and you need a tag to pass the doors and activate the elevator. You probably won't have to worry about security whatsoever.
If I had to state any negatives, to be fair and frank (but VERY MINOR): live music in front of our unit during evenings in warm weather can be noisy; some neighbors sometimes can get noisy, but that's applicable to all apartments; some automobile fanatics doing donuts and making noise at nighttime far out in the distance sometimes wakes me up, but only rarely; the lobby and workspaces have strangely high and uncomfortable chairs, so we barely use them even though we want to; the main entrance from the lobby for some reason is kinda smelly.
I will emphasize that this is BY FAR the best apartment residence we've stayed in so far based on our criteria, and we would STRONGLY recommend Uhill. 5 stars all around.
David Mueller
Nov 25, 2025
5
I highly recommend University Hill Apartments in Durham. The building is modern and well-maintained, and my apartment is both beautiful and spacious. The amenities are excellent, and the location is incredibly convenient for dining, shopping, and commuting.
I also want to recognize the leasing office team—Kate, Nancy, and Mary. Each of them has been outstanding to work with. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and consistently go above and beyond to support residents. Their dedication makes University Hill an exceptional community.
Scott Sun
Aug 30, 2025
5
I’ve been living at UHill for 4 years, and it’s been a great experience. The community is welcoming and vibrant, with a strong student presence that makes it feel lively and connected. Mary, the leasing manager, is fantastic—always friendly, helpful, and dedicated. She also organizes plenty of community events (free lunches & dinners are the ones I attended) which really add to the sense of community here.
Dina Rousset
Aug 26, 2025
5
Moved in a few weeks ago and loving it so far. Mary was a pleasure to work with on signing lease, completing paperwork and move-in. The location is fantastic - gated and well lit parking, great amenities in the building and restaurants, a coffeeshop, a brewery and stores all a quick walk away. The private pet yards are a big plus.
Ali Merola
Aug 21, 2025
5
My son lived here for 2 years while attending grad school at Duke. I would highly recommend this property as it provides gated parking, close proximity to everything and a very clean environment. The management is top notch and were always quick to respond to any questions or problems. Mary is outstanding at what she does! It will be difficult to top this community!
Jack Masonis
Jul 24, 2025
5
I’ve been living at University Hill since it was completed in 2021 after moving from Manhattan, and overall, I’ve really enjoyed it. The apartments themselves are super modern and comfortable—high ceilings, big windows, nice finishes, and in-unit laundry make a big difference compared to the NYC shoebox I previously lived in.
Hawthorne Residential is a very professional management company that knows how to treat their residents and take care of the building, much better than anything I lived in up north.
The retail around the apartments is a huge plus...Dino's just opened and has some of the best pizzas around. Definitely recommend.
If I wasn't moving to Colorado this year, I'd see myself here for another 5 years.
Sophie Vincoff
May 28, 2025
5
I lived here for two years and loved it. UHill truly felt like home. The apartments are beautiful, spacious, and full of natural light. They are not the most sound-proof, but I've found this to be typical in modern luxury apartments. The amenities are lovely as well. The location is amazing; everything you could need, from grocery stores to restaurants to doctors, is in very close proximity. The parking lots are gated for protection and very convenient. I had few maintenance issues, but maintenance staff were always very responsive and came to fix the problem ASAP. Everyone who works here was very kind, responsive, and helpful. I've really raved about this place to everyone who has asked and highly recommend living here! For Duke students, it's also a nice change of pace from the area immediately around Duke, but still a very short drive away (down the beautiful, tree-lined Academy Road). Mary, Nancy, and everyone at UHill - thank you for a great experience!
Sainah Theodore
Apr 11, 2025
5
This property feels like home! The leasing office and service team are outstanding – always available, responsive, and genuinely care about residents (and their pets!). The property is beautifully maintained, and the frequent community events are a fantastic bonus. Highly recommend for a welcoming and well-cared-for living experience.
Joshua Stablein
Feb 24, 2025
5
I've been living at UHill Apartments for about 1.5 years now and I've loved every bit of it! The office staff are always welcoming, kind, and very eager to solve any issues you may be experiencing (Nancy and Mary are especially awesome)! The complex is constantly hosting a plethora of fun community events like holiday decorating, yoga classes, free meals, and other fun events. The amenities are very well kept, including the pool, gym, lobby, and outdoor areas. I've truly never had an unpleasant experience at this complex. The apartments themselves are beautiful with modern/updated appliances and technology, and I've had very minimal maintenance issues. The few experiences I've had with the maintenance team have also been very pleasant, as they're a great team and very quick to resolve whatever issue you may be experiencing. I also feel very safe in this complex since you need fob to get in the front lobby and into the apartment hallways. Not to mention, the location is fantastic for food, drinks, shopping, and close to the hospital where I work. I highly recommend this complex if you're looking for a place to live in Durham!
Jeremiah Hasley
Feb 4, 2025
5
My experience at University Hill Apartments in Durham has been amazing. The units are modern and spacious, and the location is super convenient—close to shopping, restaurants, and schools. The staff is responsive with any issues, and amenities like gated parking and a secure package room are a nice touch. Also, the green egg has been a great use for my apartment. The pool looks awesome and can't wait to use it in the summer time.
