Student Housing in Orange, CA
Student Housing in Orange, CA
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About Student Housing in Orange
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.
Best Neighborhoods for Students in Orange
Old Towne
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.
El Modena
East of campus, El Modena offers quieter tree-lined streets and neighborhood parks a short drive out.
Orange Park Acres
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.
Getting Around Orange as a Student
Here's what you need to know about getting around Orange.
Public Transit
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.
Walking and Biking
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.
Parking
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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Student Housing in Orange
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.
Old Towne and the residential blocks right around Chapman are the top picks because you can walk or bike to class. El Modena offers quieter streets and parks a short drive away, and Orange Park Acres brings larger lots and trails for students who want more space.
If you live in Old Towne, not necessarily. The campus is two blocks from Orange Plaza Square, the area is walkable and bikeable, and the Orange Transportation Center connects you to Metrolink, Amtrak, and OCTA buses. Farther out, the city spreads, so a car helps.
Extremely close. The main campus sits just two blocks from Orange Plaza Square, so students renting in Old Towne and the surrounding blocks often walk or bike to class in minutes. El Modena and Orange Park Acres are short drives east.
The historic Old Towne district and the residential neighborhoods around Chapman are generally quiet and well-kept, and El Modena and Orange Park Acres feel suburban and calm. Use normal awareness around the plaza nightlife at night, and roommates add shared peace of mind.
Start in spring for a fall move-in. The bungalows and apartments closest to Chapman in Old Towne are in high demand and go early, so lining up roommates and a lease a few months ahead gives you the best chance at walking distance.
Most rentals run standard 12-month leases, and many of the Old Towne houses are rented room by room to groups of students, so you'll often sign together with roommates. Older historic homes can have quirks, so inspect before you commit.
Usually not. Electricity, gas, water, and internet are typically billed separately, especially in the older Old Towne houses. Plan on roughly $60-$120 per month per person, and split shared utilities among roommates to keep each person's total down.
Yes. Chapman's off-campus housing site and student groups are full of roommate and sublet listings, and group rentals are the norm in Old Towne. Summer sublets are common, just check your lease for any restrictions before arranging one.
Expect tree-lined streets, vintage bungalows, and a walkable plaza at the center of it all. Old Towne is one of the most charming historic districts in Southern California, with public parks and the Santiago Creek greenbelt nearby and the rest of Orange County a short drive or train ride away.
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