A room in a shared apartment or house near campus usually runs about $600-$900/month per person in Durham. Older houses split among roommates around Hayti land at the lower end, while newer complexes toward downtown or South Durham sit higher. Budget another $50-$120/month for utilities, and ask whether water and internet are bundled.

Yes. Every new first-time freshman must live in a university residence hall for the full first year. You can request an exemption if you'll be 21 or older by the first day of classes, are married, have custody of children, or commute from a parent or guardian's home within 15 miles of campus.

Upperclassmen tend to stay around Hayti and the streets near campus for the short walk, rent newer apartments toward downtown or South Durham if they want amenities, or pick a house with roommates on the older single-family blocks nearby. Proximity to a bus line matters if you don't have a car.

Not strictly. Durham runs city bus routes that connect campus to downtown and South Durham, and a few close-in spots are walkable. But the city is spread out, so a car makes groceries and getting around easier. Plenty of students manage without one by leaning on the bus and rideshares.

Start in January or February if you want a newer student-style complex, since those prelease through spring. Houses around Hayti and campus turn over closer to summer on a looser timeline. Either way, line up your roommates before you tour, and don't wait past spring if you want to be close to campus.

Most leases run a full 12 months. Houses near campus usually use one joint lease, so all roommates share responsibility if someone bails, while some complexes lease by the unit. Durham also caps how many unrelated people can share a single-family house, so confirm the legal occupancy before you crowd in with friends.

Hayti, the blocks right around campus, and the newer South Durham complexes are areas students commonly choose. As with any city, conditions vary block to block, so walk the street at night, check the lighting, and look at how the property is kept up rather than relying on a neighborhood's reputation.

It depends on the building. Newer complexes sometimes bundle water, trash, and internet, while houses usually leave you to set up and split everything. Expect roughly $50-$120/month per person on top of rent, and ask whether anything is capped so summer AC doesn't wreck your budget.

The school's off-campus marketplace can help you find roommates, and many complexes match you if you search solo. Houses run on joint leases, so pick people you trust. Subletting comes up around summer and graduation, but check your lease language and get the landlord's written sign-off before handing your room to anyone.

If you live in Hayti or right around campus, the walk to class is easy. Downtown Durham, with its museums and renovated warehouse district, is a couple of miles north, so most students bus, bike the greenways, or drive. The American Tobacco Trail also gives you a car-free route for running and cycling.