Swarthmore is a small, leafy suburb, and rentals reflect that, with one-bedroom apartments in the borough often running around $1,500 to $1,650 per month and houses higher. Many students share to bring their individual share down, and looking toward nearby Media up the rail line can open more options at a wider range.

The blocks around downtown and the train station are prime, steps from campus and the Regional Rail line. The residential streets right around Swarthmore College offer quiet historic houses, the Crum Woods edge is the most wooded, and nearby Media up the line gives more rental supply and a livelier main street.

Usually not. The borough is compact and walkable, and SEPTA Regional Rail connects you to Philadelphia in about thirty minutes from Swarthmore station. A car helps for big grocery runs or off-schedule trips, but between walking, the train, and rideshares, many students at Swarthmore College go car-free.

Take SEPTA Regional Rail. The Media/Wawa Line stops at Swarthmore station, located right between downtown and the college, and reaches Center City Philadelphia in roughly thirty minutes. That makes internships, weekend trips, and city visits easy without owning a car.

Swarthmore is a quiet, residential borough that's generally very comfortable for students. As anywhere, use common sense after dark, keep your home and bike locked, and stay aware around the train station at night. The small-town setting means a calm, low-key environment most of the time.

Start early, in the fall or winter for the next academic year. The borough is small, so the limited supply of student rentals near campus and the station goes quickly. If you want more choice, expanding your search toward Media early helps a lot.

Most are standard 12-month leases on apartments and houses in the borough. Some landlords offer shorter or academic-year terms, but supply is limited, so confirm details early. Check whether summer is included and whether any utilities are bundled before you sign.

Plan for roughly $120 to $250 per month per household for electric, heat, water, and trash, with older historic houses running higher in winter. Internet is extra. Some apartments bundle certain utilities into rent, so always ask what's covered before signing your lease.

Yes, though the small market means it pays to start early. Sharing a house or apartment near campus is common, and college housing resources, student groups, and local rental pages help match roommates. Summer sublets appear as students leave for breaks, useful for short-term coverage.

It's quiet, green, and beautiful. The campus doubles as the Scott Arboretum, the Crum Woods and Crum Creek give you wooded trails, and the walkable downtown sits by the train station. You get a peaceful, tree-lined home base with Philadelphia just a thirty-minute Regional Rail ride away whenever you want city life.