North Druid Hills Real Estate

North Druid Hills, Georgia

North Druid Hills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in DeKalb County, home to about 20,000 residents across roughly four and a half square miles. It is bordered by Brookhaven to the north, Decatur to the east, and Atlanta neighborhoods to the west. Interstate 85 runs along its northern edge, with North Druid Hills Road providing direct access from the interstate, while Briarcliff Road and LaVista Road serve as the area's main connecting corridors. Downtown and Midtown Atlanta sit roughly eight miles away, typically a fifteen to twenty minute drive, and SRA's Tucker office is a short trip east along LaVista Road. Interstate 85 also gives residents quick access northeast toward Gwinnett County, making North Druid Hills a convenient midpoint for commuters heading in either direction.

Suburban Growth Along LaVista Road

North Druid Hills developed largely in the postwar decades as Atlanta's suburbs expanded outward along its major roads. A key turning point came in 1965, when Executive Park was built on former farmland near LaVista Road and Interstate 85. Recognized as the first suburban office park in metropolitan Atlanta, it helped establish the area as a commercial hub alongside its residential growth. Area residents twice pursued cityhood, first under the proposed name Briarcliff and later as LaVista Hills, but neither effort succeeded, and voters rejected the LaVista Hills cityhood referendum in November 2015, leaving North Druid Hills unincorporated within DeKalb County.

Parks and Green Space

North Druid Hills has several county parks tucked into its neighborhoods. Kittredge Park, about two acres, includes a baseball field, a pool, and a multi-use court. LaVista Park offers four acres with a playground. W.D. Thomson Park, the largest of the three at roughly twenty nine acres, adds courts, a playground, walking trails, and access along a creek, giving residents a mix of active and passive recreation options within a short drive of home.

Shopping and Everyday Amenities

Toco Hills Shopping Center, at the intersection of LaVista Road and North Druid Hills Road, has anchored the area's retail since it opened in 1956. Developed by Atlanta businessman W.C. Shepherd, the center originally featured a grocery store, drug store, and hardware store, and later added a movie theater in 1965. Tall Tales Book Shop, an independent bookstore that has operated at the center since 1979, remains one of its longest-running tenants, and the shopping center has continued to evolve with new restaurants and retailers over the decades since. The historic Houston Mill House on Houston Mill Road, a preserved early homestead used for dining and events, adds a notable landmark to the area.

Housing Character

Housing in North Druid Hills reflects its postwar development pattern. Mid-century ranch homes, typically one story with low rooflines, overhanging eaves, and large picture windows, make up much of the older housing stock. Split-level homes, built as land became more valuable and lots grew narrower, add a second common style, along with classic brick homes whose exteriors often mask a range of different floor plans and past renovations. Along the North Druid Hills and Briarcliff corridor, newer condominiums, townhomes, and infill construction have added more contemporary options alongside the area's older single-family streets.

• Toco Hills Shopping Center and Tall Tales Book Shop


• W.D. Thomson Park's trails and creek access


• The historic Houston Mill House


• Easy access to Interstate 85 and LaVista Road


• A short drive to Emory University, Decatur, and Tucker

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Druid Hills a city?

No. North Druid Hills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in DeKalb County. Past efforts to incorporate it as a city, under the names Briarcliff and LaVista Hills, both failed, most recently when voters rejected a 2015 cityhood referendum.

How far is North Druid Hills from Downtown and Midtown Atlanta?

It is roughly eight miles from Downtown and Midtown Atlanta, usually about a fifteen to twenty minute drive depending on traffic, thanks to its access to Interstate 85.

What areas border North Druid Hills?

North Druid Hills borders Brookhaven to the north, Decatur to the east, and several Atlanta neighborhoods to the west, placing it near the center of DeKalb County.

What kinds of homes are typical in North Druid Hills?

Mid-century ranch homes and split-level houses from the postwar decades are common, along with classic brick homes and newer condominiums and townhomes built more recently along its main corridors.

What is there to do in North Druid Hills day to day?

Residents shop and dine at Toco Hills Shopping Center, spend time in county parks like W.D. Thomson Park, and take advantage of quick highway access to reach the rest of Metro Atlanta.