
Best Detroit neighborhoods for students living off-campus
As a college or university freshman, you will experience a lot of changes. New environment, new people, new ways of studying, etc. Moreover, if you decide to move out of your parents’ home, you will experience an additional change – starting to live on your own. Which is great, but with everything great comes something that is not so fun. One of those things is deciding which of the Detroit neighborhoods for students are best if you are living off-campus. Luckily, we’re here to help you out.
Where to?
In addition to figuring out how to stay organized in college, you will need to find the perfect place to spend your university days. This is exactly why we present some of the Detroit neighborhoods that have all, or most of the characteristics suitable for maximization of your college productivity. The places we picked out include:
- Woodbridge
- Southwest Detroit
- Hamtramck
- North Rosedale Park
They aren’t ranked in any particular order because they all have something great about them. So, let’s get started.
Woodbridge is one of the best Detroit neighborhoods for students
If you decide to enroll in Wayne State, Woodbridge is a great pick. The reason being that it is very close to the college. Also, it is close to a great neighborhood named Cass. There are a couple of restaurants and attractions near the university and the whole neighborhood is becoming more and more populated by students. There are fewer families and long-term residents, so you won’t have trouble finding people to keep you company. And with the help of High Quality Movers Detroit, you will settle in in no time.

Since many of the residents (mostly students) are renting homes, you may notice that the rent is rather high. Clocked at around $900-1000 it can be somewhat difficult for a student budget to afford a home here. But, if you got the money, go ahead, you won’t regret it! The neighborhood is safe, pretty, and full of life!
Southwest Detroit is also a great place
So, when picking your first college apartment, you might want to consider this part of Detroit. This is mainly due to the sheer beauty it holds. What makes it unique is that it has a large Mexican and Latino community. Moreover, there is a part of this suburb that is called ‘Mexicantown’. It is a little commercial strip that is filled with Mexican restaurants, bakeries, shops, etc.
Also, if you go further westward, you will end up at Clark Avenue and the fun just begins. There you will find some of the most authentic Mexican cuisine and a dozen of restaurants that have the best tacos in the whole state.

With its unique architecture and homes that are over a century old, you will grow to love this place. The rent here is capped at $1000, which, to be honest, is quite a lot of money, but it’s well worth it. Just like before, it is a safe community and a rather small one. However, you will enjoy your stay here, guaranteed.
Hamtramck is a special place when it comes to Detroit neighborhoods for students
This place is definitely worth a special mention. It is a suburb that is very diverse when it comes to its populations. There are a lot of African Americans, Polaks, Yemenis, and Lebanese. Consequently, you will find a lot of themed restaurants that can trigger your tastebuds and make you feel like you made a trip halfway around the world. Additionally, it has a lot of smaller shops where you can find an abundance of interesting items. Its motto “A League of Nations” is not ungrounded!
When it comes to population density, we must say that this suburb is one of the more densely populated parts of Detroit. To put it simply, this area has a special type of charm that you can’t see anywhere else. In addition to all of this, it is an affordable place to live. If this is your cup of tea then start packing! Be aware that you can find assistance for this task very easily. However, we must mention that there aren’t many students that live here. Anyway, this is a neighborhood that will provide you with all the right types of conditions you need to successfully finish your studies.
Last but not least – North Rosedale Park
Even though people might suggest West Village or Indian Village, these places are much too expensive for working people, let alone for students. This is why we recommend looking into North Rosedale Park. It has everything the aforementioned two have, but it comes at a lower price.

Because of active community groups, the homes here have been well maintained. So, you won’t break the bank for a run-down home. In fact, you will have to thank the Grandmont Rosedale Community Development Corporation since they are the main drivers of maintaining the historic vibe this community has. Furthermore, the residents here host cleanups on a regular basis. And when you consider that this place features community gardens, theater groups, and many other activities, you will not wonder anymore, why this is one of the best Detroit neighborhoods for students.
Living in the suburbs is not bad, you should try it!
Really, if you think about it, living in the suburbs is not bad. In fact, it can be much more enjoyable than staying in the city. This is especially true when it comes to college students. Even though when you are moving from a college dorm to an apartment, it might be better to live in the city, if you are living off-campus during your studies, think about finding a suburban place.
Of course, there are some downsides to living in the suburbs. For example, you might not like the 20 to 30-ish minute commute to get Downtown. But, when you consider that some of these Detroit neighborhoods for students don’t even require you to go downtown, it becomes clear why suburbs take the easy victory over living in the city. Try it out, you won’t regret it!