Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Vibe:
There is plenty of off-campus housing for students in Ann Arbor. If you want to live near the football stadium, then Elbel is a popular choice. You also get easy access to Elbel Field, an athletic complex that includes a football field, volleyball courts, softball fields, soccer, cricket, rugby, and ultimate frisbee fields. So if you want to play or are an athlete, this is a good choice. Tappan is a good choice if being near the Greek houses is important to you. The Law Quad and Ross School of Business are also in the area, so you’ll find plenty of older grad school students in the area.

Zoned Schools:
- Bach Elementary
- Slauson Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $430,000–$500,000, though most residents rent
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Tappan
-Old Fourth Ward
-Oxbridge
-South Campus (Madison)
-Westwood (UCLA area)

Check out the University of Michigan Off-Campus Housing site for school-vetted listings:

The Vibe: Ann Arbor has a growing downtown business district with plenty of small tech and creative businesses filling the commercial real estate. For that reason, young professionals love to live in the apartments and condos downtown for a simple walk to work.

Add an awesome restaurant and bar scene downtown to the in-town business district, and you have the basics covered. Throw on top of all that the Art Galleries, including the Ann Arbor Art Center, the jazz and other live music clubs, the bookstores, the AA Hands-On Museum, theaters, ice cream shops, and too many other things to list, and you can see why the area is popular for those looking for a good walk score to work and play.

Check out the Main Street Ann Arbor "things to do" site for a wrap-up of the area's places and activities:
Zoned Schools:
- Bach Elementary
- Slauson Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Condos average $450,000–$650,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Downtown Madison
-Pearl District-lite (Portland)

Old West Side is a beautiful historic district that borders downtown. Families can choose from smaller Cape Cod-style homes and much larger older homes to get the best of both worlds. Live on quiet streets but have just a short walk to all the great restaurants, and the culture and social experiences of downtown. You also get to live near the Pioneer High School, state-wide renowned for academics, sports and overall excellence.

Another great options is Burns Park. Also filled with tree-lined streets and old beautiful homes, the draw to Burns is the historic Burns Park which offers year-round play for families including a great playground, basketball courts, softball fields, tennis courts and a sledding hill for winters.

• Old West Side
• Burns Park
• Lowertown

The Vibe:
Tappan includes streets near the Law Quad, Ross School of Business, and the Greek houses. Housing is mostly older rentals, big houses divided into apartments, and a few mid-rise student buildings. Side streets are quieter, but the blocks nearest Hill Street and State Street stay busy during the school year. It’s a good fit if you want to be within a short walk of classes, student events, and campus dining.

Zoned Schools:
- Angell Elementary
- Tappan Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $500,000–$600,000, but predominantly renter-occupied
Similar Neighborhoods:
-University Hill (Boulder)
-East Rock student area (Yale)

The Vibe:
Old West Side sits just west of downtown and is known for its historic homes, from smaller cottages to large, restored properties on quiet, tree-lined streets. It’s one of the most walkable residential neighborhoods in the city, with playgrounds, pocket parks, and the ability to walk downtown without losing the feel of a neighborhood. Homes turn over slowly because the area is steady and well-loved.

Zoned Schools:
- Bach Elementary
- Slauson Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $650,000–$850,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Eastside (Madison)
-Queen Anne residential (Seattle) minus the hills

The Vibe:
Burns Park is a historic, leafy neighborhood southeast of campus. The park itself is a major anchor, with playgrounds, sports fields, tennis, and sledding in winter, all of which draw families to the area. Streets are calm, and many homes date back a century, with a mix of well-kept single-family houses and renovated properties. It’s easy to walk or bike to central campus, making it popular among faculty and staff.

Zoned Schools:
- Burns Park Elementary
- Tappan Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $750,000–$1M+
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Dudgeon-Monroe (Madison)
-Piedmont district feel (Oakland)

The Vibe:
Old Fourth Ward sits between downtown and central campus. Housing includes older homes split into rentals, newer townhomes, and a few small condo buildings. It’s an easy walk to both Main Street and campus, so the area has steady demand, especially for grad students and young professionals who want something quieter than Hill Street but still close to everything.

Zoned Schools:
- Bach Elementary
- Slauson Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $550,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Short North fringe (Columbus)
-Old Town fringe (Fort Collins)

The Vibe:
Oxbridge covers the blocks near the Law Quad and Ross School of Business. It’s quieter than Tappan but still very student-oriented. Housing includes older multifamily houses, smaller apartment buildings, and a few co-ops. The Law Quad lawns, libraries, and courtyards give the area a campus-adjacent feel. Walkability is the main draw.

Zoned Schools:
- Angell Elementary
- Tappan Middle
- Pioneer High
Median Home Price: Around $500,000–$650,000
Similar Neighborhoods:
-Hyde Park near the UChicago campus
-West Philly near Penn Law