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Emory University sits in the historic Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta, with about 14,000 students on a leafy campus of quads and red-brick buildings. Druid Hills is gorgeous and green, full of stately old homes and mature trees, and Emory's own Lullwater Preserve gives students miles of trails, a lake, and a forest in their backyard. Just beyond campus, walkable Emory Village clusters shops at the gates, while nearby Decatur feels like a small town inside the city, anchored by its lively square. Atlanta's bigger draws, from museums to pro sports, are a short trip away, and the free Emory shuttle plus MARTA's Decatur station connect students to the rest of the metro. With Stone Mountain Park not far east, the outdoors stays close even in a city this size.
Emory has a two-year live-on requirement: first-year and second-year students must live in university-owned or leased housing unless they are granted an exemption. The main exemptions cover students whose permanent home is within 30 miles of the Atlanta campus, those with a documented medical need housing cannot meet, and students who are married or living with a dependent. Importantly, you have to request an exemption before signing a housing agreement, so handle it early to avoid a cancellation penalty.
After sophomore year, most students move off campus into Druid Hills, Emory Village, Decatur, or Toco Hills. The Atlanta rental process is standard: landlords run credit and income checks, and younger students usually need a guarantor or co-signer. Not every neighborhood is walkable to campus, so the free Emory shuttle network shapes where students choose to live.
Watch lease timing against the shuttle routes, since not every neighborhood is walkable to campus. Confirm whether a place is on a free Emory shuttle line before you commit. Lining this up early keeps you from getting stuck off the shuttle network.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with Emory University before signing a lease.
Because so many Emory students are locked into the two-year live-on rule, the off-campus rush concentrates among juniors, seniors, and grad students, and it moves earlier than you would expect. Preleasing for the next fall opens in winter, and the walkable, shuttle-served spots in Emory Village, Druid Hills, and Decatur go through late winter into spring. Aim to tour and sign between January and March. Starting in winter gives you the best shot at shuttle-served units.
The peak window runs from winter preleasing into spring, with January to March the strongest stretch. Classes start in late August. A summer search is possible since Atlanta has a deep rental market, but the units closest to campus and on shuttle lines will be gone, leaving options farther out in Toco Hills or along MARTA. Roommate groups should commit during this window to keep the walkable spots in play.
If you are late, watch for December and January spring openings as graduates and study-abroad students clear out. Check summer sublets when students leave for internships. Expect fewer shuttle-served and walkable options the later you start. Set alerts on the Emory off-campus portal so you do not miss the good ones.
The historic, tree-lined neighborhood around campus, suburban-feeling with lots of green space.
Right at the gates, the most walkable pocket, a mix of newer apartments and older homes.
Decatur is a charming small-town downtown square just east, lively and well connected by MARTA, while Toco Hills is close, practical, and often a bit easier on the budget.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
A private room in a shared apartment or house near campus typically runs about $900-$1,300/month per person, with whole one-bedrooms in Emory Village or Decatur closer to $1,500-$2,100. Toco Hills and units farther from campus sit lower, while walkable, shuttle-served spots run higher. Budget roughly $50-$150/month for utilities depending on the place.
Other universities in Atlanta share a similar off-campus housing market.
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