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West Lafayette, Indiana is a college town of roughly 45,000 on the west bank of the Wabash River, built almost entirely around Purdue University and its tens of thousands of students. Purdue's sprawling campus dominates the city, so student life and city life are essentially the same thing. The campus core flows into adjacent neighborhoods and the Chauncey Village district, the main commercial hub where students gather between classes. Across the river, the larger city of Lafayette adds more to do. Public green space runs along the Wabash riverfront and through parks like Happy Hollow, and the city's rhythm follows the Boilermaker calendar, with game days at Ross-Ade Stadium and basketball at Mackey Arena setting the tone.
Just northeast of campus, the classic student neighborhood, a walkable mix of older homes and rentals steps from the Chauncey Village district and class.
Across Northwestern Avenue from Mackey Arena and Ross-Ade Stadium, right next to game-day energy and a quick walk to campus.
A little farther out, wrapping around Happy Hollow Park and the wooded ravines closer to the Wabash River, a greener, quieter setting.
Here's what you need to know about getting around West Lafayette.
CityBus serves both West Lafayette and Lafayette, and Purdue students ride free with a valid ID, including the Campus Loop routes that circle the university and the regular city routes that reach apartments and the wider area. Because so much student housing sits within walking distance or on a CityBus route, you can comfortably live here without a car. The free routes make transit a practical daily option. Many students rely on the bus and their feet.
The campus and the nearby Chauncey Village district are very walkable, so a lot of students rarely need wheels for daily life. Biking is common, and the compact campus makes cycling between classes quick. So much housing sits within walking distance that getting around on foot is easy. The flat layout suits cyclists heading to class and the village.
Because so much student housing sits within walking distance or on a CityBus route, you can comfortably live here without a car. Those who keep one use it mainly for trips beyond town. On-campus parking requires a permit, so plan for that. Apartments away from the core generally offer easier parking.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Demand from Purdue keeps things on the higher side for the area. A one-bedroom often runs around $1,400 a month, and units right near campus can push past $1,500. Sharing a larger apartment or house with roommates is how most students bring the per-person number down to something more comfortable.
Browse student housing near each West Lafayette-area university.