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Colgate University brings about 3,054 students to Hamilton, a small, postcard village in the rolling hills of central New York. Campus rises up a hill above town, anchored by Taylor Lake and a stone-and-ivy quad, and the Village Green sits at the heart of Hamilton just down the slope. Because the village is compact, student life and town life blur together: a short walk takes you from your residence to the shops around the Green. Colgate runs deep on tradition, from the Torchlight Procession that sends seniors down to Taylor Lake, to Founders Day and Homecoming each year. The Raiders compete in Division I, and the surrounding hills offer trails, lakes, and serious winters. The free Colgate Cruiser loops campus and the village, and most students walk.
Colgate is a residential campus, and the university houses students for essentially all four years, so off-campus living is the exception, not the default. First-years and most upperclassmen live in college housing up the hill above Hamilton.
Only about a third of seniors get approved to live in privately owned off-campus housing, and approval runs through an application and lottery process tied to on-campus capacity, so it's not guaranteed even if you apply. That makes the off-campus pool in Hamilton small and competitive.
If you win a spot in the lottery, you'll rent from local landlords who know the student cycle well, often houses in the village split among several seniors. Expect a security deposit and first month up front, and leases that frequently run a full 12 months even though you're only in town for the academic year, so factor in summer. Read closely for who handles heat, snow removal, and parking, and get every housemate on the lease so the deposit and responsibilities split evenly.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Colgate University before signing a lease.
Colgate's off-campus timeline is unusual because it's gated by the university's lottery rather than the open market. The application and lottery for senior off-campus approval happen well ahead of the year you'd move, so your first step is securing approval, not browsing listings. Once you're approved, move fast, because Hamilton is tiny and supply is limited. Plan to lock a place in late fall or winter for the following academic year.
The best houses near the Village Green and the walk up to campus get claimed early, often by the group that lived there before passing it to friends. Lean on graduating seniors and word of mouth, since houses turn over within friend groups as much as on listing sites. Late fall through winter is the window to commit. Acting then is the only reliable way to land a central spot.
If you're searching late, expect slim pickings and be ready to take a spot a bit further from the center. Summer sublets are rare in a village this small, so don't count on a short-term bridge. Widen your search toward the edges of the village if the core is full. Staying flexible on location is the best way to find something workable late.
The walkable heart, closest to shops and a short climb to campus.
Village houses popular with approved seniors, an easy walk in, with more student rentals just off the center on Lebanon Street.
Quieter blocks with older homes split among roommates, while the edges toward the hills offer more space and parking if you have a car or use the Cruiser.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A room in a shared house in Hamilton usually runs $700-$1,100/month per person once a group splits a place, since most off-campus seniors rent whole houses together. A 5-bedroom house renting around $1,700 total works out to roughly the low end per person. Smaller units or fewer roommates push your share higher.