Loading listings
Commerce, Texas sits in the rolling landscape of Hunt County about 65 miles northeast of Dallas, and its identity is shaped almost entirely by the presence of East Texas A&M University. With a population of around 9,000 people, Commerce is small enough that students dominate the social fabric of the community but large enough to have a functional set of amenities within city limits. The university campus is attractive and well-maintained, with a clear center of gravity that the surrounding neighborhoods orient themselves around, and the result is a town where students rarely feel anonymous. Local restaurants, coffee shops, and small businesses cater to the student population in ways that give Commerce more character than its size might suggest. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex sits within an hour's drive, which means that students who want professional events, major concerts, large shopping centers, or city-scale entertainment have a reasonable path to those things on weekends without needing to relocate their entire lives. Housing is affordable relative to Texas urban markets, the community is tight-knit, and for students seeking a focused academic environment embedded in a genuine small city, Commerce delivers a compelling combination.
The blocks directly surrounding the East Texas A&M campus make up the most active student residential area, with apartments and rental houses within a short walk of academic buildings. Demand here is highest and units tend to lease earliest each year.
Commerce's compact downtown sits a short distance from campus and offers a quieter residential option in the blocks surrounding the historic commercial strip. Students who want to be near local restaurants and shops without the density of a large city center often find this area appealing.
The residential streets north of the main campus corridor offer more single-family rental homes with yards, typically at friendlier price points per bedroom. This area is popular with students in their junior year and beyond who want more living space.
South of campus along the main highway approach, a cluster of student-oriented apartment complexes provides amenities such as covered parking and on-site laundry. The trade-off is a slightly more car-dependent location for getting around campus and into town.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Commerce.
Commerce does not operate a traditional fixed-route public bus system for general community use. East Texas A&M University provides a campus shuttle service that connects key points on campus, but coverage outside the university footprint is limited. Students who need to travel beyond walking or biking range of campus typically rely on personal vehicles, and most off-campus housing is selected with driving in mind.
Commerce's modest size and relatively flat terrain make walking and biking practical for students who live close to campus. The neighborhoods immediately adjacent to East Texas A&M are easily accessible on foot, and the short distances involved mean that many students leave their cars parked on most days. Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse, but traffic volumes in most residential areas near campus are low enough that cycling feels manageable for most riders.
Parking in Commerce is generally accessible and affordable compared to larger university towns. The university offers student parking permits for designated lots, and off-campus apartments and houses typically include dedicated parking spaces. Street parking near the campus perimeter is available in many areas, though it becomes more competitive during high-traffic class periods. Students living just off campus rarely face serious parking challenges.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Commerce is affordable relative to most Texas college towns. Shared rental houses offer some of the lowest per-person costs, while newer apartment complexes near campus run higher but still compare favorably to urban Texas markets. Utilities, groceries, and everyday costs in a small East Texas town are generally manageable on a student budget.
Browse student housing near each Commerce-area university.