University at Buffalo - Off-Campus Housing

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College Prowler Take

Off-campus housing at UB is the rule, not the exception. There are so many options off campus that where you choose to live after freshman year becomes a statement about who you are. It’s common for freshmen to hear things like, “You’re a real Elmwood girl,” or “I can totally see you living in the Heights someday.” The most popular options are the big brick houses and wooden shacks in University Heights, the cookie-cutter suburban apartments that surround North Campus, and nicer apartments on the tree-lined streets of city neighborhoods such as North Buffalo, Allentown, and the Elmwood Village.

University Heights, which spreads out for a full square mile around South Campus, has been a lively, diverse student neighborhood since the early 20th century. Though most of the academic departments moved to North Campus in the ‘70s, the frat houses, bars, stores, and coffee shops in the Heights are still the epicenter of off-campus social life. Thousands of students are attracted to the area for its dirt-cheap rents (usually around $200/month) and party-ready student houses. The Heights isn’t for everyone, though; the threat of crime means that students ought to be street smart, and the high number of shoddy houses and slumlords means you need to really shop around. Students who think the Heights is a squalid ghetto move into Amherst apartments. Amherst places are safer, cleaner, and more convenient to campus; but they are far more expensive on average and pretty removed from the “college experience.” Many urban types—art majors, theater majors, and English majors—move to one of Buffalo’s upscale West Side neighborhoods. Rents are a bit steeper here, but the neighborhoods are safe (and more importantly for these students, they’re trendy).

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Students Speak Out

BufAM says: University at Buffalo 2011 Biological and Biomedical Sciences

There are several areas to look at... There are several areas to look at housing around Amherst and in Buffalo. There are apartments and houses that you can rent. From what I've heard, it's really dependent on the area and the neighborhood. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 26, 2009 Report

coolkatz321 says: University at Buffalo 2013 Social Sciences

It's widely available and... It's widely available and incredibly cheap. University Heights near South Campus seems to be the favorite, but it's crime-ridden, which can be a problem. A lot of students live in Amherst, where it's safe, quiet, and really cheap. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: March 24, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

For those who like a quiet area,... For those who like a quiet area, there are many off-campus locations away from the Heights where students live. The Colony Apartments, right off North Campus, are a really safe and quiet apartment complex where many people are happy living. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

motherfucker says: University at Buffalo 2013 Other

Off Campus A After freshman year, if you have any self respect you'll move to University Heights. The houses are mostly old and crappy, but you wont have to worry about an R.A. knocking on your door. The bars a walking distance, means you can maximize the 4am closing time and not ever have to take the bus back. 12345 Off-Campus Housing: December 21, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

Buses that run from South Campus... Buses that run from South Campus make the commute easier if you don’t want to drive in the snow. Sometimes, when you are the only person on the bus, it feels like you’re a rock star on tour and you have your own personal limo service. 12345 Off-Campus Housing Report

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