5 Neighborhoods to Rent in if You Attend the University of Cincinnati

One might think this list will be the same as our article for where to rent if you attend Xavier.  The schools are separated by just 2.5 miles, but with traffic and high population density, this can make all the difference.

The University of Cincinnati (UC) has the advantage of being less than five minutes from both I-75 and I-71.  This means that UC is accessible from almost any part of town.  That being said, there are considerations with the flow of traffic that can make certain times of day difficult.  Below we’ll give you a list of the top five neighborhoods to rent in if you attend the University of Cincinnati and choose to live off-campus.

1) Clifton

This might be so obvious that it goes without saying.  The University of Cincinnati sits on the border of Clifton and Corryville so, Clifton is a natural choice.  Housing can disappear quickly in Clifton, but if you can get a spot in Clifton it is the best choice.  The campus is walkable, certainly bikeable, definitely driveable, and a very short bus ride from even the further reaches of Clifton.  Our blog has offered a lot of articles outlining the many perks of living in Clifton.  See What to do in the Clifton Gaslight District and Better Know a Cincinnati Neighborhood: Clifton. Look at our current listings for Clifton for a daily-updated list of quality apartment and home rentals.

2) Over-The-Rhine

Just north of downtown is a small but trendy neighborhood called Over-The-Rhine (OTR).  It offers lots of restaurants, bars, and nightlife as well as a very short commute to campus.  Prices can be high, but with a roommate, it should still be affordable.  With streetcar access to downtown and The Banks, OTR offers lots of built-in incentives.  OTR offers a 5-7 minute drive to campus with a range of only 12-14 minutes using public transit.  See our current listings for apartments, condos, and townhomes available in OTR.

3) Downtown

Clifton is occasionally referred to as “uptown.”  Vine Street cuts right through the center of downtown Cincinnati and goes right up to the edge of UC’s campus.  Most places in downtown Cincinnati are fewer than 10 minutes by car to UC.  It is a doable, but difficult 2.5-mile bike ride with hundreds of feet of elevation.  The advantage of downtown is that all of the city buses originate downtown so there is a lot of flexibility with public transit.  On average it would only take one bus and 20 minutes to get from downtown to UC.  See our current listings for downtown Cincinnati.

4) Walnut Hills

Directly east of the University of Cincinnati is Walnut Hills.  It has an up-and-coming business district of its own and offers a short 15-minute public transit to and from campus.  It is only a 10-minute bike ride to get to UC from Walnut Hills.  If you own a car it is only 4-6 minutes to get to campus.  In most cases, parking will take longer than the commute!  Walnut Hills offers easy access to campus and generally much lower rent than Over-The-Rhine and downtown.  See our current listings for Walnut Hills.

5) Avondale/North Avondale

Of all the neighborhoods on this list, Avondale and North Avondale are the most affordable.  Both neighborhoods are North of the University of Cincinnati’s campus.  On average North Avondale has an eight-minute drive to campus.  Public transit is a little longer at an average of 35 minutes and biking is difficult with about 3 miles each direction and a few hundred feet of elevation.  Still, if you’re looking for an affordable off-campus experience and own a car, Avondale or North Avondale can be great options for you.  See our current listings for Avondale and North Avondale.

 

While these are our top five recommendations, the University of Cincinnati is very accessible from both highways so you shouldn’t necessarily rule out some places further away like Hyde Park, Oakley, and Mt. Adams.