jnc107

Also, particularly within Midtown, look for addresses Belvedere Blvd. and eastward, North Parkway and southward, East Parkway and westward, and Central Ave. and northward. That block covers a large area, and you should have no trouble finding something within it. There's also an area south of Central called Cooper-Young that's up and coming. Good luck!

I'm not a student at UofM, but I've lived in the city/surrounding area most of my life. Midtown has the best combo of affordability, safety, and entertainment in Memphis. It's an unusual city, as the "bad" neighborhoods are intertwined with the "good" neighborhoods. For instance, one street west of my apartment will land you in the middle of halfway houses, but 2 blocks south or northeast contain some of the most valuable property in the city. You really have to see an apartment in person to be able to judge the area. As far as costs, rent is very reasonable in Midtown, though utilities are on the high side. I pay $660 for a 2bd/1ba turn-of-the-century apartment within a 4-plex with a W/D and central A/C/heat. I am within walking distance of the zoo, a movie theater, a playhouse, a plethora of bars and restaurants, and a grocery store. UofM is about 10-15 minutes away. Though commuter parking at UofM is horrendous (there's an active train track that separates the main parking lot from campus), any affordable housing for a student's budget within walking distance is pretty crime-infested. Downtown Memphis is not worth the hype unless you're going to be over there every day. It's over-priced, and parking leaves much to be desired. It's better left to the tourists. The suburbs (meaning any neighborhood other than Midtown/Downtown) are either gang-infested, again over-priced, or just blah. There are a few small towns within a 30-40 minute drive of the city center (in Shelby County and DeSoto County, MS), particularly if public schools are a concern. I have a love/hate relationship with this city. It's working on its problems, but it still has a long way to go. It's tolerable once you find your niche. Though, if I had to choose between living in Nashville or living in Memphis, I'd pick Nashville every time.