5 State College Neighborhoods for Penn State Students: Downtown vs Toftrees vs Park Forest

Penn State students who live off campus mostly choose between five State College neighborhoods: downtown along College and Beaver Avenues, the Waupelani Drive complexes to the south, the Blue Course Drive and Northwick area to the west, Park Forest out by Aaron Drive and Vairo Boulevard, and Toftrees to the north. Downtown puts you half a mile from class. The outer four are about 1.3 to 2.1 miles out, where rooms in five-bedroom units list from $799, but you'll pay a $2.50 CATA fare each way unless your building includes a bus pass.

Key Takeaways

• Downtown is the walkable pick. Meridian on College Avenue, 0.5 miles from campus, holds a 4.6 FMP score from resident reviews.
• Waupelani Drive is the middle ground, 1.3 miles out. The Brexx lists rooms in five-bedroom units from $799.
• Out west, The Heights at State College scores a perfect 5.0 and lists from $940.
• Park Forest, around Aaron Drive, is where you find regular one-bedroom apartments, like Park Forest Apartments at $930.
• Toftrees is two miles north. The Valley lists rooms in its five-bedroom townhomes from $799.
• The free Blue Loop, White Loop, Red Link and Green Link cover campus and downtown only. Every other CATA route costs $2.50 a ride (or $383 for a four-month pass).

1. Downtown State College: Walk to Class, Pay for It

Downtown is the right call if you want to walk everywhere and never think about a bus. It's the grid of College Avenue, Beaver Avenue and Calder Way across from campus, and it holds most of the high-rises and older walk-ups students rent.

Meridian on College Avenue at 646 E College Ave is 0.5 miles from campus, lists from $765 and carries a 4.6 FMP score, one of the strongest downtown. One resident mentions tailgates and solid soundproofing, and another says parking is "a little pricey." A couple of blocks away, The Legacy at State College on E Calder Way lists from $1,046 and scores 4.2.

Downtown's catch is noise and parking, not distance. If you're comparing all your Penn State off-campus housing options, start here and decide how much the walk is worth to you.

2. Waupelani Drive: The South-Side Middle Ground

Waupelani Drive works for groups of four or five who want a newer complex without a two-mile commute. It sits south of downtown, about 1.3 miles from campus, with a cluster of purpose-built student apartments.

The Brexx at State College at 300 Waupelani Dr is the clearest example. Its prices drop as the unit gets bigger, from $1,450 for a two-bedroom down to $799 in a five-bedroom, so you're paying by the bedroom. It holds a 3.4 FMP score. Executive House Apartments sits a block away on the same road.

At 1.3 miles you can bike or walk in decent weather. In February, you'll want the bus.

3. Blue Course Drive and Northwick: The West-Side Complexes

The west side is where some of the best-reviewed complexes in town sit, if you can live with a 2-mile commute. It's the stretch off Blue Course Drive and Northwick Boulevard, west of campus and south of Park Forest.

The Heights at State College at 201 Northwick Blvd is 2.1 miles from campus and holds a perfect 5.0 FMP score. Floor plans list from $940 (a three-bedroom) up to $1,435 (a renovated two-bedroom), so confirm whether a quote is per bedroom or per unit before you budget. Farmstead Townhomes, about 0.3 miles away, scores 4.0.

Not everything out here earns those numbers. Alight State College on Blue Course Drive lists from $549 but sits at 1.8 out of 5. Cheap and well-reviewed rarely come in the same package, so check both.

4. Park Forest and Vairo Boulevard: Regular Apartments, Quieter Streets

Park Forest is the pick if you want a normal apartment instead of a student complex. It's the residential area west of campus, around Aaron Drive, with trails and parks nearby.

Park Forest Apartments at 901 W Aaron Dr is two miles from campus. A one-bedroom lists at $930 and a two-bedroom at $1,175 (whole-unit prices, since rent rises with size). Reviews are split, with a 3.2 score. One resident praises quick maintenance and a quiet building. Another describes thin walls, bugs in the fall and move-out charges.

Nearby on Vairo Boulevard, Tremont Student Living and The Pointe State College both sit at 1.8 out of 5 on FMP. Read those reviews carefully before you sign.

5. Toftrees: North Side, Townhome Living

Toftrees suits groups who want townhome space and don't mind a bus ride. It's the planned community about two miles north of campus, off Toftrees Avenue.

The Valley at 870 Toftrees Ave lists rooms in five-bedroom, 5.5-bath townhomes from $799 and four-bedroom units from $860. Like the Brexx, the price per room falls as the unit grows. It's newer to FMP and has no reviews yet, so tour it and ask current residents.

The trade is simple. More space for the money, and a daily bus or car commute.

The Bus Math That Changes the Rent Comparison

Living outside downtown can add about $400 a semester in bus fare, and most listings skip that part. CATA's fare page says its LOOP and LINK routes (the Blue Loop, White Loop, Red Link and Green Link) are fare-free, and they cover campus and downtown. Rides on CATA's community routes, which serve most of the outer neighborhoods, cost $2.50 each way.

Ride to class and back five days a week for a 16-week semester and you're looking at about $400. A four-month OnePass is $383. Penn State's discounted RIDEpass ($24 a month) is only for grad students, faculty and staff, not undergrads.

So before you sign in Toftrees, Park Forest or out on Blue Course Drive, ask one question: is a bus pass included? CATA itself tells renters in apartment complexes to check with their rental office about passes. If yours covers it, the outer neighborhoods look a lot better.

Frequently Asked Questions About State College Neighborhoods for Penn State Students

Which State College neighborhood is closest to Penn State?

Downtown. Buildings along College Avenue, Beaver Avenue and Calder Way sit about half a mile or less from campus, and the free Blue and White Loops run through them.

Is Toftrees too far from campus?

Not if you plan for it. The Valley at Toftrees is two miles out, which means a bus or car on most days. Budget $2.50 a ride or $383 for a four-month CATA pass unless your lease includes one.

Do Penn State students ride CATA for free?

Only on the Blue Loop, White Loop, Red Link and Green Link. Community routes to the outer neighborhoods charge a fare, and the RIDEpass discount is for grad students, faculty and staff.

What's the cheapest neighborhood near Penn State?

On sticker price, the outer complexes. The Brexx and The Valley both list rooms in five-bedroom units from $799, and Alight on Blue Course Drive starts at $549. Add roughly $400 a semester for the bus if your lease doesn't include a pass, then compare that total with a downtown room you can walk from.

When should I start looking for housing in State College?

September or October for the following fall. The best downtown units tend to be signed by November or December, so tour early if walking to class is your priority.