Off-Campus Housing & Apartments near Purdue University (IPFW)

Welcome to off-campus living at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Whether you’re a new or returning student, undergraduate or graduate, in-state or international, you have plenty of off-campus housing options here. And you’ll find listings of the best apartments near Purdue University on ForRentUniversity.com®. But, if this is your first year at school, you’re probably wondering: How's student life in West Lafayette, Indiana? What are the best neighborhoods for Purdue students? Read on for the details in our Purdue off-campus guide.

Purdue West Lafayette is the main campus for the Purdue University system. (Other campuses are in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Hammond, and Westville.) Purdue is a top research and engineering institution and a major international university. Purdue, in fact, has the fourth-largest number of international students among U.S. public universities. Here are a few more useful facts for anyone attending Purdue: - Purdue’s athletic teams are the Boilermakers, a name inspired by local locomotive builders and the school’s own working railroad engine in 1891. The Boilermakers school band is also famous for carting the “world’s largest drum” (perhaps) across the field during football games. - Purdue’s male-female enrollment numbers run counter to the national norm. Nationally, 55% of U.S. undergraduates are women. At Purdue, men outnumber women 57% to 43%. - Purdue has its own airport, the first university-owned airport in the country, which serves as a working laboratory for aviation technology degree programs. - West Lafayette is home to Harry’s Chocolate Shop, rated the best college bar in the country by Buzzfeed readers.

What’s it like for a student living in West Lafayette? West Lafayette is a small city, though it’s right across the Wabash River from larger Lafayette (population 71,782). If you want to have some big city fun any weekend, West Lafayette is about 65 miles from Indianapolis and about two hours from Chicago. Because Purdue is such a strong component of West Lafayette, the city is essentially one large college campus. Purdue’s Office of Community Relations works within Lafayette-West Lafayette on initiatives ranging from student volunteers to an annual half-marathon to keep energy flowing between the city and campus. Like Purdue, West Lafayette also is a very international city. In fact, 24% of the city’s residents are foreign-born, and people from more than 54 nationalities live in the city. Not surprisingly, the city also is very youthful, with a median age of about 22. With its large student population, of course, West Lafayette boasts an eclectic collection of restaurant and bars. Party at the Neon Cactus nightclub, enjoy “craic” at Nine Irish Brothers, or chow down at Triple XXX, which, contrary to the name, is a family restaurant serving breakfast all day. Despite Purdue’s influence, however, life is mostly quiet for those who live off-campus in West Lafayette. Trying to keep it that way, Purdue’s Off-Campus Housing Guide offers more information on city codes, local regulations, and alcohol laws you might want to be aware of before claiming your corner of West Lafayette. Staying Safe in West Lafayette AreaVibes rates West Lafayette A+ for its low crime rate. The overall crime rate in West Lafayette is 63% lower than the state of Indiana’s average and 61% lower than the national average. The most common crime reported in West Lafayette is theft.

Chauncey Village / Wabash Riverfront

Chauncey Village and the Wabash Riverfront form downtown West Lafayette, which connects to downtown Lafayette across the scenic John Myers Pedestrian Bridge. This area, especially Chauncey Village, is student central. You’ll find lots of bars, restaurants, pizza joints – and plenty of student-focused apartments with easy access to the Purdue campus by foot or bike along State Street. Some of the spots that liven up the neighborhood include the Purdue Theatre and Scotty’s Brewhouse. When you want to get away into nature, hit the Wabash Heritage Trail at Tapawingo Park.

New Chauncey

New Chauncey is a more residential neighborhood just east of Purdue’s main campus and north of Chauncey Village. Though the area contains more single-family homes, the neighborhood association welcomes Purdue students. In fact, the association organizes an annual meet and greet for student renters in August, going door to door to hand out information about West Lafayette and the surrounding area. You’ll find leasing offices, apartments, and some fraternity houses along Fowler Avenue and River Road on the southern border of this neighborhood.

Hills & Dales / Happy Hollow

Hills & Dales and Happy Hollow are to the north of New Chauncey. Hills & Dales is across Northwestern Avenue from Mackey Arena, where the Boilers play basketball, and Ross-Ade Stadium, where 57,000 can gather for football game days. Happy Hollow surrounds Happy Hollow Park closer to the Wabash River. Happy Hollow is a little farther from the main Purdue campus, so you might want to have a car or use public transportation here. Fortunately, the Greater Lafayette CityBus runs routes through these neighborhoods along Northwestern Avenue, Salisbury Street, and Happy Hollow Road.

Blackbird Farms

You’ll find a cluster of apartment communities here on the west side of Purdue’s campus, on either side of Lindberg Road near U.S. Route 52. This is the place to be if golf is your thing, as you’ll be beside Purdue’s Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which boasts two 18-hole championship courses. Also nearby are facilities for baseball, softball, tennis, rugby, and soccer. This area also is convenient for access to grocery stores and other big-box shopping along Sagamore Parkway. The CityBus 4B Purdue West route connects this area to campus. Bonus: Purdue students, faculty and staff can ride CityBus free by showing a university ID.