As the home of the University of Georgia, it’s no surprise that over 40,00 students live in Athens each year. Due to the large student population and UGA’s substantial presence, Athens offers many areas for UGA students to live on or near campus.
At Rambler, we have helped hundreds of students on their student housing search, and we know it can be overwhelming to decide which area and type of housing would be the right fit for you.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Living Off-Campus for UGA Students
For this reason, we’ve created this article to explain the popular areas for student living around UGA and compare the benefits of living in each area.
Where Do Students Live Near UGA? A Guide to On- and Off-Campus Student Housing
On-Campus Living at the University of Georgia
The University requires all first-year students to live in a residence hall on campus. UGA has over 30 residence halls on campus, offering many options to fit your personal needs.
Each dorm offers its own features and layouts, from traditional to apartment-style living. The most populous dorm layout at UGA is a hall with traditional double rooms and communal bathrooms. UGA also offers suite-style dorms, in which roommates have a shared bathroom with suitemates. Lastly, apartment-style dorms are located in East Campus Village and offer private bedrooms and bathrooms for students, as well as a kitchen and living area.
Dorms follow the UGA academic calendar, so your lease will typically be for the 9-month school year. Residence halls cost $1,200 to $4,400 per semester, depending on the style of living and number of roommates you choose. This comes out to around $2,400-$8,800 for the academic year.
These rates do not include your meal plan, but do include internet service, study rooms, laundry access, mail services, and all dorms come fully-furnished. Additionally, most dorms have communal kitchens and lounges, so you aren’t confined to your living space. If you choose to live on campus, meal plans range from $1,900-$2,200 per semester for access to all five dining halls.
Keep in mind that since residence halls follow the academic calendar, they will be closed during school breaks. This means that you may not enter your dorm during winter, spring, and summer break. So, if you are considering staying in Athens during these times, you may want to consider off-campus living options.
Read Next: How Much Does it Cost to Live near the University of Georgia?
There are also a handful of traditional, privately-owned apartment options on campus. These apartments are mainly located on South Lumpkin Street and are a popular option for students who value academia and campus involvement following their first-year in the dorms. The most popular are The Wright House, Lyons Apartments and Lumpkin Square.
Off-Campus Living Near UGA
Representative living room at Rambler Athens.
The majority of UGA students do not live on campus following their freshman year, so there are ample options when it comes to off-campus housing. However, most students wish to be walking distance from campus to avoid finding parking or taking the bus.
Read Next: Where to Live Near UGA if You Don’t Want to Live on Campus
Students living close to campus typically live in one of these three areas:
Off-Campus: Downtown
Popular housing: The Mark, The Standard, Georgia Heights
One of the most highly sought-after areas for students to live is downtown. This is due to the proximity to campus and access to all that downtown Athens has to offer; from live music to bike races and farmers’ markets, living downtown is always entertaining.
Additionally, downtown Athens’ student apartments offer luxury amenities like rooftop pool decks, saunas, gyms, and much more. These apartments, like Rambler, were built with the UGA student lifestyle in mind, which is why many offer private study rooms and group workspaces.
Off-campus living options downtown primarily include apartments, but some students also live in traditional and Greek houses in this area. Aside from easy access to restaurants, shops, and bars, downtown is adjacent to campus, making walks to class or the library a breeze.
Apartments downtown are generally one of the more expensive housing options for students. However, since they are the most popular option, you can find apartments in Athens at a variety of price ranges. The price of a downtown apartment depends on the apartment building, number of roommates, and floor plan you select.
Overall, parking in Athens is tricky. Downtown is the most difficult, because there are limited parking garages and pay-by-day spots. The good news is that students can apply for both UGA and city-owned parking decks located downtown, and many apartment buildings offer parking spaces for an additional fee.
Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Parking near The University of Georgia
Off-Campus: Milledge
Popular housing: Greek Houses, Milledge Oaks Apartments, Traditional houses
Walking around Milledge Avenue, you will find 19 sorority houses, housing around 50 girls each. Milledge is also home to a large number of fraternity houses, making this area a social hub for students involved in Greek Life.
Typically, Greek houses are available for second-year Greek members. However, each chapter has their own process for choosing who lives in their house. For sororities, The University of Georgia Panhellenic Council estimates this number at about $4,359 per semester. Keep in mind that this price includes sorority dues for the semester, so this will not be an additional cost.
If you wish to be close to the action but do not want to live in a Greek house, there are numerous traditional houses scattered along and around Milledge available for students. These houses are popular amongst upperclassmen who wish to live with multiple roommates, close to campus.
Read Next: Where Do UGA Students Live: Alternatives to Greek Housing
Additionally, there are a few apartment buildings around Milledge. Apartments in this area are a great option for underclassmen who chose not to live in their house but still want to be close-by and stay involved with their chapter. Apartments on or near Milledge have a similar price tag to their downtown counterparts, ranging from around $1,000 to $1,600.
Parking on Milledge is limited as street parking is not permitted on the main avenue. However, if you are living in a Greek house, you will have access to your chapter’s parking lot. If you are in a traditional house, you will have a lot, driveway, or street parking permits. Additionally, apartments in this area offer private lots for residents.
Off-Campus: Five Points
Popular housing: Traditional houses, Mathis Athens, Cloverhurst Apartments
Located just south of campus, Five Points is a bustling area of Athens. With restaurants, retail, coffee shops, and a grocery store just outside the door, this option is great for students looking for a laid-back lifestyle.
Traditional houses are the most popular option for students living in Five Points, but there are many apartment options as well. Both traditional houses and apartments in Five Points are cheaper than those on Milledge, largely due to the fact that Five Points is farther from downtown and campus. This area of Athens is popular for students who enjoy a quick walk to campus but want to be a little removed from the action in a quieter side of town.
Read Next: 8 Steps to Finding a Student Apartment Near UGA Campus
Parking in Five Points is similar to Milledge. If you are living in this area in either an apartment or traditional house, you will either have a private lot or parking passes for street access.
Comparison of Off-Campus Living Options
To summarize the typical offerings of each area near campus, we put together this table to help to compare your options:
| Downtown | Milledge | Five Points | |
| Affordability | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
| Proximity to Campus | 5 minute walk | 10-15 minute walk | 10-15 minute walk |
| Population | Undergraduate students | Undergraduate students; Mostly students in Greek life | Undergraduate students |
As you can see, students have many options when it comes to off-campus living near UGA.
To help you simplify your UGA housing search, we’ve put together a complete guide to off-campus housing near UGA:
Choosing the right place to live can have a huge impact on your college experience, it’s important to look at all of your options and determine what you value most in your student housing. We hope that this article informs you on where UGA students live and helps you to determine which neighborhood may be best for you.
If you have any questions during your student housing search, please contact our leasing staff! They would be happy to help you in your hunt for the right housing for you.
