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Orange, California is a mid-sized Orange County city of around 140,000 best known for its beautifully preserved historic core. Chapman University is a longtime fixture in the Old Towne district, its main campus sitting a couple of blocks from Orange Plaza Square, the traffic circle and public plaza at the heart of the old town. Students give the historic neighborhood a college-town feel, filling the bungalows and apartments on the tree-lined streets around campus. Beyond Old Towne, the city stretches into quieter areas like El Modena and the larger lots and trails of Orange Park Acres, with the Santiago Creek greenbelt threaded through. Living here as a student means one of the most charming old downtowns in Southern California.
The prime pick, the historic district right by campus where you can walk to class and live in classic bungalows and apartments on tree-lined streets. The residential blocks immediately surrounding the university are packed with student housing within easy walking or biking distance.
East of campus, El Modena offers quieter tree-lined streets and neighborhood parks a short drive out.
Farther east toward the hills, this area has larger lots, a rural feel, and riding and walking trails for students who want more space and don't mind commuting in.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Orange.
The Orange Transportation Center is close at hand for longer trips. It offers Metrolink and Amtrak regional trains plus OCTA bus connections that tie you into the rest of Orange County. Students without a car can reach neighboring cities and the wider region from this hub. For getting around Orange County, the train and bus connections at the center are the main option.
The area right around Chapman University is genuinely walkable, with the main campus just two blocks from Orange Plaza Square. Students who live in Old Towne can walk to class and into the historic district for everyday needs. Biking works well on the flat streets near campus and along the Santiago Creek trail. Close to Old Towne, the college experience is easy to navigate on foot or by bike.
Orange is a fairly car-oriented Orange County city outside the walkable old town. Beyond Old Towne the city spreads out, so a car makes errands, work, and weekend trips much easier for students living farther from campus. Students who drive will want to plan for parking near the historic core, where space is tighter. For most renters outside walking distance, a vehicle is the practical default.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Orange County runs pricey, but sharing keeps it manageable. A room in a shared house or apartment near Chapman often runs about $900-$1,400 per month per person, while a private one-bedroom typically lands around $2,000-$2,700 per month. Splitting an Old Towne bungalow with roommates is the usual move.
Browse student housing near each Orange-area university.