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Student Housing in Erie, PA
$390/unit
Fees may apply224 W 3rd St
$390+/unit
Fees may applySassafras Street Duplex
About Student Housing in Erie
Erie is a mid-sized post-industrial city of approximately 90,000 people situated on the southern shore of Lake Erie in northwestern Pennsylvania, making it the state's third-largest city and its only port on the Great Lakes. The city has deep roots in manufacturing and shipping that shaped its neighborhoods, architecture, and culture over more than two centuries, and today it is working through an economic revitalization that has brought new energy to its downtown, waterfront, and arts district. Presque Isle State Park, a sandy peninsula jutting into Lake Erie just west of the city, is Erie's defining natural feature and one of the most visited state parks in Pennsylvania, drawing beach-goers, kayakers, cyclists, and birders year-round. Gannon University anchors the downtown core, and Mercyhurst University and Penn State Behrend add to the city's significant student population across different neighborhoods and the eastern suburbs. The rental market is affordable by Pennsylvania standards, with a wide supply of older single-family houses, duplexes, and apartment buildings available throughout the near-campus neighborhoods. Erie's winters are famously heavy due to lake-effect snow off Lake Erie, and students should be prepared for significant snowfall from November through March. The combination of affordable living, a real waterfront, an emerging downtown, and access to nature makes Erie a city that rewards students who engage with it.
Best Neighborhoods for Students in Erie
University District
The streets closest to Gannon's campus are the heart of student life in Erie, with a high concentration of rental houses and apartment buildings. Living here puts students within easy walking distance of classes, the library, and campus facilities.
Perry Square Neighborhood
Surrounding Erie's landmark downtown park, this area blends residential and commercial uses in a walkable urban setting. Students here benefit from proximity to restaurants, coffee shops, and the lively downtown streetscape just steps from Gannon's academic buildings.