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St Paul is Minnesota's state capital and the quieter, more historically rooted partner to Minneapolis, with a population of roughly 300,000. The city is known for Victorian architecture, diverse immigrant communities, and neighborhoods with distinct identities - from the Summit Ave corridor to the working-class density of Frogtown and Hamline-Midway. Students near Concordia University Saint Paul find a walkable, transit-connected area with affordable rents and direct Green Line light rail access to Minneapolis. The broader metro offers a strong job market, arts institutions, and outdoor recreation along the Mississippi River. Winters are genuine, but the city takes them in stride.
Hamline-Midway is the residential heart of the area surrounding Concordia University Saint Paul, with streets of older homes, duplexes, and low-rise apartments. The neighborhood has a strong sense of community anchored by local businesses along Hamline Ave and Minnehaha Ave. Green Line access at Hamline Station makes the neighborhood well-connected to both St Paul and Minneapolis.
Frogtown is one of St Paul's most affordable and culturally diverse neighborhoods, with a dense residential grid just south of campus. Rice Street and University Ave provide the main commercial corridors, with a wide range of restaurants, markets, and services. Rents here are among the lowest in the city, attracting students and working families alike.
Summit-University sits just southeast of Hamline-Midway and includes the historic Summit Ave corridor with its Victorian architecture and tree-lined streetscape. The neighborhood offers a mix of rental housing types at varying price points and has strong walkability toward downtown St Paul. Students looking for a slightly more polished environment while staying close to campus consider this area seriously.
The Midway district along Snelling Ave is a transit-rich corridor with easy Green Line and A-Line access in both directions. Newer apartment complexes have opened in recent years alongside established mid-century buildings, giving renters more options at different price points. The area is close to Allianz Field and the dense commercial stretch of Snelling between University and Selby.
Here's what you need to know about getting around St Paul.
St Paul is served by Metro Transit, which runs the Green Line light rail from Union Depot through Midway and on to Minneapolis. The Green Line is the backbone of transit for students living near Concordia University Saint Paul, with Hamline and Snelling stations within easy reach of campus. The A-Line bus rapid transit runs along Snelling Ave and connects to multiple Metro Transit routes. Frequent bus service on University Ave and Rice Street fills in coverage across the city's dense residential neighborhoods.
The Hamline-Midway and Frogtown neighborhoods near Concordia are walkable for daily errands, with grocery stores, cafes, and pharmacies accessible on foot. St Paul has an expanding network of protected bike lanes, and the Central Corridor along University Ave is bikeable for most of the year. The Capital City Bikeway connects through downtown and out to the river bluffs, offering a more scenic commute route. Winters require studded tires or a willingness to switch to transit from December through March.
St Paul has far less of a parking crisis than Minneapolis, and most residential neighborhoods near campus have street parking available without permits. On-campus parking at CSP is limited and prioritized for upperclassmen and commuters. Students renting off campus should confirm whether their unit includes off-street parking, as some older duplex conversions offer street parking only. Snow emergency rules require attention during winter months, as vehicles left on certain streets during declared emergencies are towed.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
One-bedroom apartments in Hamline-Midway and Frogtown typically rent for $800-$1,100 per month, with shared two-bedroom units running $600-$900 per person. Older duplexes and basement units at the lower end of that range are common in the blocks surrounding campus.
St Paul is home to 5 universities, each with its own student housing market.
Concordia University Saint Paul is a small private Lutheran university in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood of St Paul, enrolling roughly 3,000 students across programs in education, business, criminal justice, and the liberal arts. Founded in 1893 by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, CSP occupies a compact campus…
View housing near Concordia University Saint PaulHamline University is a small Methodist-affiliated liberal arts university in the Midway neighborhood of St Paul, Minnesota, enrolling approximately 1,500 undergraduates and a similar number of graduate students. Founded in 1854 as the first university in Minnesota, Hamline sits along Hewitt Avenue in a dense, walkable…
View housing near Hamline UniversityMacalester College is a highly selective private liberal arts college located on a residential campus along Grand Avenue in St Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1874, Macalester enrolls approximately 2,100 undergraduate students and is known for its strong emphasis on internationalism, multiculturalism, and civic engagement.…
View housing near Macalester CollegeSt. Catherine University, known as St. Kate's, is a private Catholic liberal arts university in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1905, the university primarily serves women undergraduates while also admitting men and women in graduate programs.…
View housing near St Catherine UniversityUniversity of St. Thomas is a private Catholic university located on Summit Avenue in the Macalester-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul, MN. The university enrolls approximately 6,000 to 7,000 undergraduate students and is well regarded for its programs in business, engineering, law, and the liberal arts. St. Thomas…
View housing near University of St Thomas MNBrowse student housing near each St Paul-area university.