Top Neighborhoods to Rent Near Major Colleges and Universities in Toledo

Toledo is home to multiple higher-education institutions, with the University of Toledo topping that list. Whether you come to the city to study engineering, art, medicine, or business, you're going to want to find a home that is as close to your campus as possible, helping cut down on the commute and encouraging you to meet people living and working in the area (just like you). I'm Catrina, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Toledo, and I'm here to tell you more about the top colleges and universities, as well as the best neighborhoods, to live in around Toledo, Ohio. 

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The University of Toledo, Main Campus

The heart of the University of Toledo, the main campus, offers a variety of degrees that are supported by a dynamic campus environment. There, you'll enjoy athletic events (go Rockets!), have an opportunity to stay in student housing, and be up close and personal with student social activities. But if you don't want to stay on campus, there are some other neighborhoods to consider.

Old Orchard

North of the main campus is the neighborhood of Old Orchard, which was developed in the 1920s and is true to its name with tree-lined streets and beautiful architecture hailing back to Neo-Colonial and Spanish heritage. The area is walkable to class, making it perfect for those who like some historical charm while also wanting to be able to walk to school. Every year, this neighborhood throws the Old Orchard Garden Tour, a perk for those interested in agriculture and gardening.

Ottawa

Ottawa is a popular location for students because of its green spaces. Ottawa itself contains Old Orchard and Westmoreland, being a larger neighborhood or region of Toledo. There, you'll find Ottawa Park, which is over 350 acres and designed with an ice rink, disc golf, tennis and bocce courts, an amphitheater, and more. When visiting Ottawa Park, we always liked to stop at the Sunrise Skillet for a bite to eat in the morning before running to class. 

If you are studying art, or just like to go to museums, you'll appreciate that the Toledo Museum of Art is located just a few minutes away from Ottawa at 2445 Monroe Street. You can get there from Ottawa, Westmoreland, or Old Orchard in under 10 minutes; it's a great way to spend your day.

Westmoreland

This neighborhood is one of the more interesting on the list; it is very...varied. South of Bancroft and east of Parkside, Westmoreland has French, Colonial English, and Spanish-style single-family homes. Many of these homes are historic and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a peaceful area, so if you are a grad student or want to raise a family while attending school, this could be the right place for you. 

The University of Toledo, Scott Park Campus

The University of Toledo also has its satellite campus, Scott Park, which many students attend for engineering and renewable energy degrees. This is a modern campus close to several neighborhoods (including Westmoreland, which has already been covered).

Scott Park

This neighborhood is just a stone's throw from the campus, which makes it a perfect place to be if you attend classes there. The housing is affordable, and the proximity to campus really can't be beat. If you hate commuting, this is the place you'll want to be. You can walk or bike to class from Scott Park. 

Reynolds Corner

Located to the west of Scott Park, Reynolds Corner is another option for nearby living. The benefit of staying in this area is that you have highway access via Hill Avenue, which means you can quickly get out of town. If you're from Michigan or need to head south to Bowling Green or Findlay, then this can be a better location for you, as far as skipping traffic while trying to get to the highway. 

And, because Reynolds Corner is slightly further from campus, the pricing tends to be lower. So, for cost savings, this can be a good solution for students on a budget. Beneficially, you may be able to save some money on your school books if you're in this area. The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Reynolds Corner branch is located at 4833 Dorr Street and is well within your neighborhood.

Westmoreland

We talked about Westmoreland above, but it is also a good solution if you're going to be going to this satellite campus. Westmoreland is well-placed for students who won't just attend the main campus. If you have a mixed schedule, then this can be a good choice. Westmoreland has beautiful architecture, is calm, and is walkable, all things that you may like if you're getting a high-intensity degree like engineering.

The University of Toledo, Health Science Campus

Studying health science is a great way to make your way into the world of medicine. And, Toledo is well-known for it. There is the local hospital system ProMedica Toledo Hospital, where you can train. Or, alternatively, you can get into the Mercy Hospital system, which has several different locations throughout. 

Whatever you choose to do, you'll want to be close to the Health Science campus, because it's likely that your hours will be long and you'll have a lot of studying to do. 

Heatherdowns

Getting close to campus is easier when you stay in Heatherdowns. This neighborhood is southeast of the campus and suburban in nature. It's convenient, which is exactly what you need when you're studying or working in the medical field. 

The nice thing about Heatherdowns is that it has plenty of apartments and retailers. You can spend an afternoon at the Heather Downs Country Club with some of your local classmates, or you can enjoy the Swan Creek Preserve Metropark on an off day to relax and rejuvenate yourself. You're going to be close to Route 24 to the east and Airport Highway to the North, too, which makes it easy to get wherever you want to go. And, if you enjoy kayaking or canoeing, you'll appreciate that you're close to several waterways, including the Maumee River. 

For those who love the theater, you can also go over to the Stranahan Theater and Great Hall, which is located within the neighborhood. It's walkable and bikeable from some parts of Heatherdowns, which is perfect if you like to get in your exercise or don't have a car while attending school. If you can travel south of Heatherdowns, you'll reach Harvard Terrace, another nearby neighborhood, that has the Toledo Zoo & Aquarium, as well.

Glendale-Heatherdowns

Glendale Heatherdowns is a larger section of the Heatherdowns region that extends all the way to Interstate 90 on the far south side and is bordered by Southwick on the west side. This area is nice for students because it has plenty of eateries. Since it's just north of the Ohio Turnpike, this area sees a lot of through-traffic, and that means food, food, food. You'll also find a number of different housing options here. Some include vintage homes, and others are more modern apartments. This blended area is good for students because it means they are close to other students and their school, but they are also close to their professors, clinical settings in local hospitals, and their training spaces. 

Southwyck

Another area to consider if you're going to be at the Health Science campus is Southwyck. Southwyck is slightly further away than other neighborhoods, but that can work well if you're an older student or in extended medical school. Families tend to live in this area because it is suburban and has comfortable amenities. 

You'll find apartments, fast-food restaurants, and other perks in Southwyck, all without being far from the major metroparks or the Maumee River. The drive is manageable because of the easy access to the major highways and turnpike. You'll appreciate Southwyck because it's not as likely to have high student housing prices or busy student events, which means you can focus on your studies. 

Find Student Apartments Near The University of Toledo

Life in Toledo isn't just about the degree program you sign up for or where you enroll. It's also about where you decide to live, learn, and study. Whether you want to be in the garden-rich, walkable and historic districts of Old Orchard or you want to be in a community-focused green space like Ottawa, you have to find a place that feels like home while you do your school and work there. 

The great thing about Toledo is that it's such a large city that there are plenty of options. You can live in Heatherdowns and be close to the Health Science campus, or you can be close to the main university by living in Ottawa. Whatever you do, you'll be choosing a community close to other students or professionals in your field, positioning yourself in an area with activities that you love, and being connected to many highways that let you easily pop in and out of the city when you want to get out of town.