Your Essential Guide to Living Near Temple University

An illustration of Temple University's bell tower.

From fun student life events on campus to cheering for your team during a basketball game, there’s a lot to look forward to when you go to college. Moving to college is one of the most exciting milestones in many people’s lives, but it can also be overwhelming—especially if you go to a university in a big city, such as Temple University of Philadelphia, PA.

Whether your first year at Temple University begins this fall or you’ve already been enrolled for a few semesters, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your college town! Fortunately, you can educate yourself on all things Philadelphia and Temple University with Safeguard Self Storage.

The History of Temple University

In 1884, Russell Conwell, a well-known minister in Philadelphia, began tutoring one young working man at night. Soon, however, Conwell’s class of one student transformed into spending his evenings teaching multiple young working people determined to become educated.

By 1888, Conwell, having brought on several volunteer faculty members, established “The Temple College,” with the mission to “provide superior educational opportunities for academically talented and highly motivated students.” 

With each decade, the college continued to grow, eventually blossoming into a full-fledged university with 400+ academic programs and a student body of 40,000 (2019). Temple University also has six campuses, two of which are in Japan and Rome.

On-Campus Living

An illustration of a residential hall.

The cost of living when you attend Temple University will vary depending on your preferences. If you want to live on-campus, you’ll have your choice of the following undergraduate residential halls:

  • Johnson and Hardwick Hall
  • Jame S. White Hall
  • 1940 Residence Hall
  • 1300 Residence Hall
  • Temple Towers
  • Morgan Hall

Depending on the residence hall you choose to live in, room rates per semester vary from $4,318 two-bedroom dorm rooms to $6,590 one-bedroom apartments. Graduate housing is also available, with semester-based apartment rates ranging from $4,999 to $7,255. Other costs you’ll need to consider when choosing on-campus housing at Temple University include your meal plan, which ranges from $546 to $2,254.

Off-Campus Neighborhoods

Prefer to live off-campus? There are plenty of neighborhoods near Temple University that you could call home, including Olde Kensington, Yorktown, Norris Square, and more. Each neighborhood features diverse, historic communities that are perfect for college students. Olde Kensington, once composed of abandoned factories, is developing into creative, unique housing options for students and young professionals.

Cost of Living Off-Campus

The average price for a one-bedroom apartment near Temple University is around $1,525, which is a 14% decrease from 2020. It’s important to note, however, that living off-campus entails other expenses that an on-campus meal plan would have covered.

The overall cost of living in Philadelphia is slightly above the state and national averages at 101.2 In fact, the only living expense that is below average compared to Pennsylvania and the United States is housing, at 66.3.

Transportation

Transportation is an important topic for college students, especially when the length of your commute could determine how long you can sleep in or how much time you’ll spend trying to get to class on time. As a university based in the city, Temple University has plenty of transportation options for students. The Bike Temple program encourages the Temple University family to take advantage of the bike-friendly campus and provides a bike lane map and bike education courses.

During the colder months when riding a bike isn’t the most enjoyable way to get to class, you can use Temple’s shuttle program or Philadelphia’s public transit system to get to class on time without breaking a sweat.

Things to Do Around Philadelphia and Temple University

An illustration of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

From on-campus activities and sporting events to exploring the city of Philadelphia, there’s always something for Temple University students to do when they’re not studying or in class.

Looking for some comfort food after a stressful exam? Grab a bowl of pho from Yummy Pho, one of Temple University’s staple restaurants, or sink into one of Saige Café’s cozy couches with a coffee after a long day. 

Prefer to re-energize yourself after a long day of classes? Take a stroll around Beury Beach or get involved with Campus Recreation to sweat out all the stress.

Other activities and experiences you can enjoy on and off Temple University’s campus include:

Solve Your Student Storage Needs with Safeguard

From its scenic environment to its historic, diverse housing options, Temple University and its surrounding neighborhoods are perfect for undergrads, graduate students, faculty, and alumni. The only issue with living in the bustling community of Philadelphia? Finding the space you need to comfortably store your belongings. 

Fortunately, Safeguard Self Storage has you covered; just down the road from Temple University, you’ll find our North Broad Street storage facility.

A young student loading boxes into a storage unit.

Whether you need a spot near campus for your college belongings during the summer or a long-term home for all your things during a move to a new apartment, you can rely on our friendly team of storage professionals to find the storage solution that’s right for you. We offer air-conditioned and heated units, 7-day access to the facility, a convenient drive-in loading area, and more.

Talk to our team on North Broad Street in person or rent or reserve your unit online today!

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