The graduate students are working on updating their map of housing and other fun things near our department. The link to the map is here.
Here is an Off Campus Housing search page.
The Drexel Graduate Student Association has posted a useful FAQ that includes an overview of housing options.
This non-Drexel web site may also be helpful.
Neighborhoods graduate students commonly live in
West philadelphia:
The most common areas Drexel graduate students live in west of UPenn are the neighborhoods around Clark Park: Spruce Hill, Walnut Hill, and Cedar Park
Pros: Close to campus and connected by trolley (20 min walk, 5ish minute trolley ride), incredible food (especially Middle Eastern and African), very safe neighborhood, especially centered around Clark Park. Cheaper than other neighborhoods of similar safety
Cons: Safety can be a concern if you go too far north or west. Main transportation is trolley, so it can take a while to travel to parts of the city other than Center City.
Center city (East of the river, generally west of city hall. Generally north of south st and south of Vine St)
Pros: Close to restaurants and bars. Relatively safe, gets safer the farther south you go. Easy to get to all other neighborhoods by public transit. Easy commute to Drexel via trolley or subway, or a short walk
Cons: Very expensive. Usually requires either having money saved or getting roommates if you’re on a grad student stipend.
Note: These pros and cons are similar for the neighborhoods east of City Hall as well
Powelton Village (West of the river, north of Drexel):
Pros: Close to Drexel, very convenient. Fairly cheap. Near 30th St Station, so transportation is easy
Cons: Safety is a concern in some parts, few great restaurants around
“If you are going above Baring St, stay east of 33rd! In general, north of Spring Garden is pretty shady, but Ginny and I were at 32nd and Mount Vernon and found the experience overall safe and pleasant. However, west of 33rd gets pretty sketchy, especially in the evening. Also, don’t walk by Drexel park (32nd and Baring) at midnight alone. Very high chances you will be the victim of armed robbery. Call the escort service, or go home earlier. Technically, the escort service stops at Spring Garden, but they will totally still go with you if you are a few blocks further.”
Northwest neighborhoods (manayunk, mt airy, overbrook)
These neighborhoods are less commonly lived in, but they can be worth it for students that want to be farther from the hustle of Center City and don’t mind a long commute.
Pros: Quieter than other neighborhoods. Usually very safe. Manayunk and Mt. Airy border the Wissahickon Park, which is the best green space in the city and has lots of cool hikes. While there aren’t as many food options as in Center City, each neighborhood has its fair share of restaurants (in Manayunk clustered on Main St, in Mt. Airy usually along Germantown Ave). Young, vibrant culture, especially in Manayunk
Cons: Commute to Drexel can take longer. Each neighborhood has a rail line to Drexel, and Overbrook has a trolley line while Manayunk/Mt. Airy have buses, but commute can be 30-45min. Very few Drexel students live out here, so can hamper social life.
looking for roommates?
Two Drexel students are looking for a roommate in a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen and living area. Rent is around $550 per month starting this summer (2024). Location is near 22nd and pine, about a 20 min walk to Disque. Please contact ama572@drexel.edu for details.
Drexel Physics Graduate Student Association 