@Eruthos: I did my undergrad at UVa (graduated 2010) and will probably be returning for my doctoral degree this coming fall. I lived with two roommates on a quiet street off JPA. I could walk to class easily, and the noise levels weren't very high since it was a house off of the main road. We paid $450 each and I honestly only used my car for trips to the grocery store or outside of Charlottesville.
If I do return in August, I'll definitely be searching for something quiet again, though this time without roommates and pet friendly (I have a dog). I was thinking of living a bit farther away and paying the monthly fee for parking at the Emmet/Ivy Garage when I come to class. There are some lovely 1bdr apartment complexes (with dog parks!) around the Fashion Mall area.
http://brac.com/ is a great resource for places. When I lived there, I rented from http://velikyrentals.com/ and I never had any complaints either.