Off-Campus Housing UF

Located just north of the university, the University of Florida neighborhood is great for students, especially underclassmen who want to be close to the campus action. Most of the residents in this area are students or university staff, so if you’re into the college scene, you’ll want to look for apartments near the University of Florida. But there are also many great things about this neighborhood for upperclassmen, too! The area is incredibly walkable, and you probably won’t need a car to live here, which drives down costs, too. The neighborhood is also close to the downtown area, too, so you won’t miss out on any of the great action just because you’re near the UF campus.

Downtown Gainesville is a major business district, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of apartments and houses for students here. The area suffers from some common city issues, such as parking issues and late night noise, but it’s no worse than any other metropolitan area. There’s also lots of public transportation downtown, which is convenient if you don’t want a car or don’t like the idea of finding convenient parking near your apartment. But parking is a small worry when you’re in the heart of the action, where shops, restaurants, outdoor concerts and more exist on every block. Most of the homes and apartments for rent in Downtown Gainesville are condos or luxury apartments, but there are also quaint houses and economic apartments as well.

Situated between campus and Downtown Gainesville, fifth avenue is a unique and vibrant historic neighborhood. It’s home to many of the residential, educational and religious buildings in Gainesville, which makes it a great place to rent a flat or house near UF with friends. One particularly prominent street in the neighborhood, Fifth Avenue Pleasant Street, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its rich and vibrant architecture. The Fifth Avenue district is a major contributor of culture, history and art to the downtown scene.  

East of campus and just south of Downtown Gainesville is the Innovation District, a creative breeding ground for young professionals and tech-startup gurus. The Innovation District is unlike any other city district in that it provides resources for both students, faculty and entry-level workers simultaneously. This comes in the form of the Innovation Hub, a resource used by aspiring tech-startup entrepreneurs and professionals in the technology industry to foster collaboration and learning between businesses. It’s also home to lots of great bars, restaurants and apartments for rent near the University of Florida. The entire district is very walkable, too, so it’s a nice balance of living near campus and still experiencing the Gainesville nightlife.