The Best Neighborhoods for Renters While Attending College in Albany
Albany, the Capital city of New York state, is revered for its unique architecture and storied history. Though the primary focus has been on the aesthetics of Albany’s government buildings, it also has some residential flair.
Give Albany’s college neighborhoods a look when searching for an off-campus student apartment rental and it won’t take long to find something that suits your fancy. The best part is the vast majority of Albany rental units are affordable.
Let’s take a look at Albany’s best neighborhoods for college renters.
80 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY, 12208
Albany’s postsecondary educational institutions are highlighted by the Albany Law School. The law school is affiliated with the University at Albany. The two schools work in tandem to provide activities and programs to students from both institutions.
This small yet prestigious laws school is conveniently located near some of Albany’s most popular neighborhoods. This is your inside look at the best places to rent near Albany Law School.
The New Scotland section of Albany is affordable, welcoming and convenient. Considered one of the most enjoyable places to live in the state, New Scotland is less than 10 minutes from the Albany Law School. Rent here and you’ll find the neighborhood is walkable, providing easy access to restaurants, parks and more.
Positioned slightly southwest of the city, New Scotland has roots dating back to 1660. Local highlights on the National Register of Historic Places include Bennett Hill Farm, the Onesquethaw Valley Historic District and the Presbyterian Church of New Scotland.
In its entirety, New Scotland spans 58.4 square miles. Grand Victorians, three-decker houses and traditional apartments are available for rent.
Home to 2,986 people, Second Avenue is a haven for renters. Scroll through the apartment listings and it won’t take long to find something you like. Conveniently located by the highway along the outskirts of the city, Second Avenue is green, calm and surprisingly affordable.
Rent a unit in a complex, multi-family home or single-family domicile and you’ll likely have plenty of money left to spend at restaurants and shops. Locals also gravitate toward Krank Park, home of a popular splash pad, Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream parlor and Sabor a Campo’s Spanish food.
If you ever get bored, segue to Interstate 87 to access a litany of nearby attractions in surprisingly little time.
47 New Scotland Ave Albany, NY
Albany Medical College graduates nearly 900 students per year yet its student loan default rate is 0%. The college's graduates tend to work as nurses, physicians, pharmacists and health services managers. Check out the neighborhoods near the campus and you'll find no shortage of living spaces.
Whitehall is as convenient as it gets. Rent in this Albany neighborhood and you’ll be within 10 minutes of Albany Medical College. Located only a couple miles away from the city’s hustle and bustle, Whitehall has a suburban look yet provides quick and easy access to the city. The best part is you can easily rent an affordable home with a vintage look.
Whitehall homes tend to be designed with bay windows, wood frames and split levels. Some even feature stained glass windows and archways. If you prefer to rent a traditional apartment, those are available as well.
Some of the neighborhood’s top draws include Spinners Pizza and Pub, Pearl’s Bagels and the shops along Delaware Avenue.
Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood is chock-full of rental units including some in duplexes, attached houses and multifamily apartment complexes. Some of the residences available for rent include eclectic architecture dating back a full century.
All in all, 14,205 people live in the Pine Hills area. Here, you will find an abundance of college students renting affordable living spaces within walking distance of grocery stores, a movie theater and restaurants.
Local highlights include Ridgefield Park, Woodlawn Park and the St. Vincent Community Center’s game rooms. The neighborhood also provides convenient access to US Route 20.
The Sage Colleges - Albany Campus
140 New Scotland Avenue Albany, NY, 12208
Albany’s Sage College is one of three colleges that comprise the Sage Colleges. Live near the Albany campus and you’ll find the locals are friendly in this close-knit community. The campus is urban, spanning 19 acres.
Albany’s Central Avenue, located by the Albany-Schenectady Turnpike, makes city living easy and convenient. Rent in Central Avenue and you’ll be close to The Sage Colleges’ Albany campus as well as the uber-popular Chinatown.
Featuring affordable rents in studio, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, Central Avenue is a hip and exciting place for college students on a budget.
West Hill, also known as West End, is one of Albany’s most affordable neighborhoods with nearly 8,000 residents. This part of town offers easy access to ethnic cuisine, a nature preserve and a community center. The reasonable rents make it perfect for Sage Colleges students.
Factor in the convenient access to downtown attractions and there is all the more reason to consider renting in West Hill. Though the majority of the neighborhood’s homes for rents are multi-unit rowhouses built at the turn of the 20th century, there are also some apartment complexes.
If you don’t have a car, don’t fret as the neighborhood is dotted with CDTA bus stops and CDPHP Cycles. Interstates 87, 90 and 787 are also easily accessible for a quick visit to nearby attractions in Saratoga Springs and Schenectady.
University at Albany, State University of New York - Uptown Campus
Attend the uptown campus of SUNY Albany and you’ll receive an affordable education in a vibrant urban location. Campus security is top-notch and the academics are rigorous. The campus is also famous for its National Weather Service meteorological laboratory, Writers Institute and linear accelerator.
Let’s take a quick look at the best places to live by the SUNY Albany uptown campus.
Albany’s Arbor Hill stretches from the Livingston Avenue Railroad Bridge to Clinton Avenue. The area is split into two neighborhoods in Ten Broeck and Dudley Heights. Rent here and you’ll be within walking distance of the famous Ten Broeck Mansion, a historical and cultural icon of the Albany region.
Additional Arbor Hill highlights include Tanpopo Ramen and Sake Bar, The Olde English Pub & Pantry, St. Joseph’s Church and Palace Theater. Arbor Hill’s parks include a community center with a pool open throughout the entirety of the year.
Though the neighborhood is walkable, it also features numerous CDTA bus stops and easy access to U.S. Route 32 and Route 9.
Shaker Park is the perfect neighborhood for college students. Home to 7,622 residents, this part of North Albany typically has plenty of rentals available. Shaker Park is walkable, historic and desirable for renters of all demographics.
Providing quick access to the Hudson River and downtown, Shaker Park is affordable with traditional apartment units, Cape Cods and Colonials available for rent. Residents also rave about the neighborhood’s fresh produce at Honest Weight food Co-op, a supermarket owned by Shaker Park community members.
Additional Shaker Park highlights include Druthers, City Line Café & Deli and the city’s annual Tulip Festival.
Hudson Valley Community College - Vandenburgh Campus
80 Vandenburgh Avenue Troy, NY, 12180
Located in nearby Troy, this community college has affordable tuition, small classes and quick access to Albany’s amenities. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Hudson Valley Community College has 9,300 students.
You can learn in-person on campus or online off campus. Here’s a look at the top places to live for students who commute to the campus for in-person classes.
Do you like splash pads, baseball and tennis? If so, Krank Park is the perfect location for you while enrolled at Hudson Valley Community College. You can have plenty of fun in the sun in the Krank Park neighborhood.
Though this part of the town is home to a mere 455 people, it is intimate, quiet and peaceful. This historic neighborhood makes it easy to focus on homework, introspection and the subtleties of life. Those renting apartments near Hudson Valley Community College gravitate toward the nearby Cherry Hill historic House Museum for local flair.
Central Ave is ideal for Hudson Valley Community College renters. Positioned on Route 5, this neighborhood makes transportation a breeze.
Though Central Ave is densely populated, it has its fair share of available apartment units. Some units are located above corner bodegas while others are in duplexes and even Victorian homes that have since been converted into apartment rentals near Hudson Valley Community College.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 110 8th St Troy, NY, 12180
RPI is located one town over from Albany, in Troy. With more than 140 academic programs to choose from, RPI is emerging as a magnet for nerds. The Institute offers undergrad, graduate and doctoral programs.
Though few know it, RPI I the oldest tech-oriented university in all of the Western Hemisphere. Let’s dive into the best neighborhoods for those looking to rent apartments near Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Located within Arbor Hill, the Ten Broeck Triangle is a hotspot for college students. All in all, the triangle consists of seven blocks. Rowhouses, detached houses and apartment complexes are available for rent.
Local Ten Broeck draws include the Ten Broeck Garden, St. Joseph’s Neo Gothic style church and the litany of colorful residential porches. Some say The Ten Broeck homes’ vibrant colors are similar to those of New Orleans’ famous century-old residences.
Siena College 515 Loudon Rd Loudonville, NY, 12211
Siena College describes its college experience as transformative. This private liberal arts college is Franciscan, meaning it provides postsecondary education with a soul. The best part is Siena’s campus is located a mere 10 minutes from the state capital.
These are the best neighborhoods for those looking to rent near Siena College.
Bishop’s Gate Siena College rentals are reasonably priced and worth every penny. This suburban neighborhood consists of apartment complexes, high rise apartments, homes for rent and even some cramped studios. Most of the area’s homes were built between 1940 and 1990.
It won’t take long to find an apartment near Siena College considering the neighborhood’s vacancy rate tends to hover between 10% and 20%. Locals laud nearby highlights including Central Point Plaza, Café Madison and Hackett Park.
The Sage Colleges - Troy Campus
65 First Street Troy, NY
The Sage College Troy campus is positioned within the historic district. This scenic space is often described as the model for 19th century downtowns.
Here’s a quick look at the best neighborhoods to rent an apartment by The Sage Colleges Troy Campus.
Though Mount Hope is home to less than 600 residents, it is held in high regard by locals. In particular, college students and young professionals gravitate to the Mount Hope neighborhood. Positioned by the Port of Albany, Mount Hope provides quick access to Interstate 787.
Be sure to venture out to Mount Hope Park on the weekends for basketball action, playground fun and picnics on the grass. Locals renting near the Sage Colleges Troy campus also enjoy the Town Squire Plaza, Akira Albany, Romo’s Pizza and Sawa Sushi Grill.
Rent in downtown Albany and you’ll love every minute of it. Perfectly positioned by the Hudson River and historic district, this urban center always has something to do. The downtown area began as a Dutch village and gradually transformed into a bustling urban center. If you don’t mind the hustle and bustle of city living, you’ll love spending your time enjoying the highlights of downtown.
City residents veer toward The Egg performing Arts Center, the Empire State Plaza and the New York State Museum. North Pearl Street and State Street provide delicious entrees from the likes of Hollow Bar + Kitchen, Emmanuel Thai Restaurant and Skinny Pancake.
Albany is the Place to Be If You are Looking to Rent
Albany has quickly ascended the ranks of America’s top college towns. Search the listings for yourself and you’ll find an affordable living space close to campus. The Capital city’s rentals tend to be spacious, economical and in some cases, cutely quaint.
Your new apartment is a couple clicks away. Start your search today on Apartmenthomeliving.com.
