Throughout our almost three and a half years at WashU (it feels like yesterday we were first-years), we have explored the streets around campus where most upperclassmen choose to live. Each cluster of student housing streets has its own distinct flavor. Between our own housing experiences and those of our friends, we have made our way to apartments on every street. We each have our own opinions about what it’s like to live on these streets. Some takes are more founded than others, but hopefully all of them are entertaining. Below is a list of the most common streets WashU students choose to live on — feel free to parse through our characterizations and find some truth within them. 

Forsyth Boulevard (the block or two extending west from the Athletic Complex)

Forsyth is the street extending west from Forest Park all the way to Shaw.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 10 minutes

Units?

Most of the units here are houses that have four or more bedrooms. There are several three person and a couple of two person apartments on this block. 

Vibe? 

The street has a homey, suburban feel since all of the houses on the street are free standing. Each of them looks different and makes you feel like you are back in a neighborhood. Even the apartment buildings look like houses and are not too tall.  A lot of athlete houses are on Forsyth and it is really close to Chabad, so it is not always the quietest, but it is very beautiful. 

Pros? 

It is quiet and mellow, if that is what you are looking for, and not too far away from campus. You can find both apartments and larger houses on Forsyth, which is great. There are a few popular restaurants on this street (shoutout Colleen’s) and it is conveniently close to the gym. 

Cons? 

Any grocery or convenience store is going to be a bike ride or, more likely, a car ride away from where you are living. The street is also far away from most of the academic buildings on campus so that walk to school will be a little longer than expected. 

The lovely Kingsbury Boulevard on a nice rainy day. (Photo by Sam Powers | Junior Photo Editor)

Kingsbury Boulevard (the block in between the overpass and the Loop)

Kingsbury is the block between the Overpass and the Loop.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 10 minutes

Units?

Almost all of the units on this block are two or three person apartments. They are sorted by building, so either everyone in your building is in a two person apartment or everyone is in three person apartments. 

Vibe? 

Kingsbury is usually bustling but is also in a great location right between campus and the Delmar Loop. There are a lot of students living in each building, which makes the apartments feel kind of like dorms but without resident advisors. Behind several of the buildings, there is a shared green space where you can host friends or hang outside and actually touch grass (side note: touching grass is one of my favorite activities). The buildings are pretty old but have a lot of character to them. In a lot of ways, this is the center of social life off the northwest side of campus.

Pros? 

It is almost a certainty that you will know someone else who is living on this street and you will probably bump into them on your walk to campus on a daily basis (I am realizing that might also be a con). The green space behind these buildings is truly undefeated since it can be hard to find spaces to host people and hang outside, especially late at night — I am a sucker for a campfire and grill setup, and Kingsbury is a great spot to make that happen. The location is prime in my opinion. Being a ten-minute walk away from campus, close to the Loop, and right next to Greenway is hard to beat. There is also ample parking available.

Cons? 

Like I said earlier, you will run into people if you live on this street, which can also be a great thing. Living in a building with a lot of other people (the majority of whom are WashU students) means that you might all be moving in and moving out on the same day, which could be annoying but is unlikely. The units are also pretty competitive to get, or so I’ve heard, compared to housing on a lot of other streets. They come unfurnished, but usually you can strike good deals with former tenants who will likely be graduating. 

The wonderful Washington Ave, photographed in all its autumnal goodness. (Sam Powers | Junior Photo Editor)

Washington Avenue (the block between Kingsbury and the Loop, also the location of the Greenway buildings)

Wash Ave is the block between Kingsbury and the Loop, including the Greenway buildings.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 15 minutes

Units?

Most are apartments that have two to four bedrooms. There’s a mix of houses and apartments.

Vibe? 

Washington Avenue (Wash Ave) is right next to Kingsbury so the vibe is similar to living there but also distinct. The street is quieter, and there is less foot traffic up and down the block. At the same time, the street is close to the Loop and plenty of people will be walking on the path to and from the Loop. Being so close to the path to campus makes it a super convenient location to access campus. At the same time, since the area is closer to the Loop, it has a less suburban feel than the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood and you cannot exactly go on a nature walk when you step out of your apartment. Wash Ave truly is a street of contradictions but an amazing place to live nonetheless. 

Pros? 

The location is great if you like being near the Loop and all it has to offer, but there is not a lot of nature in the area without having to walk through the Loop to Forest Park. Even so, nearby Kingsbury provides good outdoor space. Additionally, the WashU Delmar Loop Shuttle stops at two points on Wash Ave, which is super helpful during unpleasant weather or when you’re inevitably running late to class.

Cons? 

The parking availability at Wash Ave apartments is inconsistent. This is because there is such a variety of types of housing — from WashU housing to some freestanding houses. If you have a car, parking is definitely something you should inquire about. The street itself is also narrower than nearby Kingsbury, which means if the neighbors across the street are throwing a party, you’re definitely more likely to hear it (better make some friends!). 

Perfect Pershing, looking nice and a bit wet. (Sam Powers | Junior Photo Editor)

Pershing Avenue (behind Kaldi’s and Nami Ramen, east of campus)

Pershing is east of campus behind Kaldi’s and Nami Ramen.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 20 minutes

Units?

Mostly one to two bedroom apartments, but also some houses with four or more bedrooms. 

Vibe? 

Pershing is kind of the stepchild to Waterman. It is closer to campus and to the Metro station on Skinker, but there are fewer houses and thus fewer house parties on Pershing. It is a pretty calm place to live and right next to Forest Park, which adds to the street’s aura. 

Pros? 

A huge Pershing pro is the proximity to good restaurants and coffee right at the end of the street. Everything from coffee to ramen is just down the block. There is also a shuttle stop on the far end of Pershing if you don’t want to trek to campus on a rainy day. Essentially, no matter what end of the block you live on, there are advantages and amenities.

Cons? 

If you’re a Political Science major and you want to live on Pershing, consider getting a bike. While it doesn’t seem far from campus, the distance from Pershing to buildings like Seigle or the AC is something to keep in mind. Finding a house on this street, especially on the first block, can be pretty hard since they are so competitive. Pershing is a ten-minute walk away from the CVS on the Loop, which can feel a lot longer, especially at night when you are already tired. The street cleaning is a con compared to some of the other streets, since street parking can be hard to find and it is easy to forget and collect a monthly ticket. 

Delmar Boulevard (The Lofts and Everly on the Loop)

The Lofts and Everly are on the Loop.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 25 to 30 minutes

Units?

Everly and the Lofts have studio, two bedroom, and three bedroom apartments. 

Vibe? 

Delmar is the closest thing WashU has to a college town. The school markets it like there is everything to do and more, and don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to do. You can go see a concert and play Magic: The Gathering and eat three different types of cuisine on three different days. That being said, eating out can be expensive. Overall, Delmar is a bustling place to live and hang out off campus. 

Pros? 

There are always people around and there are lots of things to do. It is also a great place to live because when you don’t want to cook, there are a bunch of places where you can eat and get all the food the Loop has to offer. You also get a little bit more distance from campus when you live on the Loop which comes with its own sense of independence. 

Cons? 

It is a busy area and there are always people around. When it comes to suburban St. Louis, Delmar is the closest thing to New York City. Additionally, it is far away from campus, so if you have an early morning class, expect that walk to be longer than you might predict. Before you decide to live in Everly on the Loop you should know two things: it has great amenities and it costs a lot of money. In terms of grocery stores, it is United Provisions or bust, so if you are someone who thrives off of Trader Joe’s frozen meals, this might not be the best place to live for you. 

Rosedale Avenue

Rosedale Avenue cuts perpendicularly through Pershing and Waterman.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Around 30 minutes

Units?

Mostly apartments that are either two or four bedrooms. 

Vibe? 

You’re almost as cool as Waterman, but not quite. There’s a sick view of the church’s clocktower across the street though. Be ready to hear it chiming. Every hour. On the hour. The street itself is not super distinct but usually has pretty good parking access on it. 

Pros? 

It’s cheap and the units are quality. Rosedale is not as popular as Waterman or Pershing which means that the units are not as competitive as the ones on other streets. 

Cons? 

It’s far from campus, especially if most of your classes are not on the East End. This is a weird con, but not a lot of people know where Rosedale is, so get ready to send people Google Maps links a lot of the time. 

Whimsical Waterman, beautiful and watery. (Sam Powers | Junior Photo Editor)

Waterman Boulevard

When walking down Skinker, Waterman is behind Kaldi’s but before Snarf’s.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

Between 20 and 25 minutes

Units?

On Waterman, there are mostly houses with four-plus bedrooms but also some apartments. 

Vibe? 

The nerdiest (and maybe best) way I can describe Waterman is that it is the party street of WashU if WashU had one. A lot of the houses here have basements which make hosting convenient. Each house has its own flavor and looks distinct. This is applicable to both Waterman and Pershing, but the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood around Waterman is super interesting and a fun place to walk around and explore.

Pros? 

The first block of Waterman that is east of Skinker Boulevard is the spot to be. It is just far enough from campus to feel off campus and also close enough that walking to classes is super easy. You will know people living on the street and in the area so running into friends is an added bonus. The houses themselves are usually pretty spacious and have a sense of character that a dorm or a newer apartment lacks. 

Cons? 

This block is the hardest block to get a house on since it is so competitive. You either have to be ready to find a house early in the year or be friends with someone who has already been hunting for houses. The grocery store is for sure a bike ride or drive away, and there are not a lot of restaurants within walking distance. The street is pretty public and living there does not always feel like you have your own space when you are walking around. That being said, you can run into some pretty interesting people as well. 

University Drive

U-Drive is across Forest Park Blvd from the Village.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

10 minutes

Units? 

UDrive offers three-bedroom units.

Vibe? 

It’s super homey. The apartment buildings are right next to the Metro and the Overpass that goes to Olin Library. As for the vibe, the street is usually quiet. The units are somewhat competitive to get since it is so close to campus. After all, some people looking for housing off campus are really looking to be as close to campus as possible so that they have easy access to the library and can sleep until the last second when they need to walk to class. 

Pros? 

It all boils down to that old adage: location, location, location. U-Drive is pretty much as close as you can get to campus. The buildings all have parking lots in the back, which is great if you have a car and are constantly struggling to find parking. If you are a real housing expert, you can also coordinate with your friends and try to live in the unit above or below them so that you are even closer to them despite living off campus. Living near friends can be a great way to spend lots of time with them while also making sure that you have your own respective spaces. 

Cons? 

Driving to U-Drive is super weird and there are some ways which make it hard to get to and to find. U-Drive is also not super close to any restaurants and grocery stores which makes living there without a car a bit of a pain. The other big-ish con is that there is no direct path to campus if you live in the middle of the street. If you live near the Overpass or the crosswalk getting to campus is easy but living on the middle of the block means having to walk around, which can be a little annoying. 

McPherson Avenue

When walking north on Skinker, McPherson lies after Waterman, and right behind Snarf’s.

How long is the walk to the DUC? 

20 minutes

Units? 

There are about four bedrooms in each house. The apartments on the street are all mostly two and three bedroom units.  

Vibe? 

It’s a residential area and not just for college students. You live there because you couldn’t get a house on Pershing or Waterman. It’s the same as those streets in terms of housing, but there are fewer college kids. The street is relatively quiet and quaint, having grown up in suburban Virginia it is very similar except instead of families most of the people walking around are college students who are late to something. 

Pros

It’s affordable. You feel more removed from the campus bubble, you get your own space, and you feel more like a grown-up. It’s nice to live in a house versus an apartment, because you get more of a homey vibe. The street is near the community garden which is a great way to spend a little bit of time in nature while not having to walk for more than five minutes. 

Cons

It’s not as pleasant to walk on Skinker at night because of the unpredictability of the light, and it’s also a much bigger street and a busier intersection than those around it. The circulator stop is not super convenient so getting to campus can be difficult without a car. There are also not a ton of grocery/convenience stores near the street which can make finding food difficult.