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Rochester, NY is a mid-sized Great Lakes city of around 210,000 with a history of making cameras and optics. Rochester Institute of Technology anchors the student scene from its Henrietta campus south of downtown, and its co-op culture fills the city with engineers, designers, and photographers year round. The Genesee River cuts through the middle, dropping three waterfalls inside city limits, and the Genesee Riverway Trail links Olmsted-designed parks and the Erie Canal. Students drift toward Park Avenue for its tree-lined blocks, the South Wedge for its artsy lean, and Highland Park for the spring lilac festival. Add Lake Ontario beaches, a busy farmers market, and a serious winter, and you've got a city that rewards anyone who leaves their dorm.
The default for RIT students since it's closest to campus, packed with larger apartment complexes, and served directly by the campus shuttle.
This draws upperclassmen who want tree-lined streets, walkable blocks, and a social scene, with older homes split into units.
An artsy, laid-back area with independent storefronts and easy bus routes toward downtown, popular with students who want character over convenience.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Rochester.
The Regional Transit Service, or RTS, runs buses across Monroe County through the Transit Center downtown, so one route usually gets you from campus toward Park Avenue, the South Wedge, or the city core. RIT also runs its own shuttle loop connecting campus to apartment complexes in Henrietta, which is how a lot of students skip the parking headache. The closer you live to Henrietta, the shorter your commute.
A ten-minute walk or shuttle hop beats traffic on the parkway for students living close to campus. Biking works in warmer months along the Genesee Riverway and Erie Canalway trails. Just plan around winter, because lake-effect snow is real and a reliable ride matters once the flakes fly.
Most RIT students keep a car, and you can get around Rochester comfortably with one. A vehicle helps for grocery runs and reaching neighborhoods beyond the campus core. Downtown and the East End can get tight on parking, so confirm options before signing a lease.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Rochester is one of the more reasonable college markets in New York. Shared houses and bedrooms in a multi-bedroom unit near RIT often land around $600-$900 per person, while a one-bedroom closer to Park Avenue or downtown typically runs $1,100-$1,500. Splitting a house with roommates is how most students keep their number low.
Rochester is home to 5 universities, each with its own student housing market.
Rochester Institute of Technology gathers about 16,158 Tigers on a 1,300-acre campus in Henrietta, New York, a suburb just south of Rochester near the Genesee River. Students call it Brick City for the unified brick-and-concrete architecture, and campus is big enough that walking between buildings is its own workout.…
View housing near RITBrowse student housing near each Rochester-area university.