Binghamton University, N.Y. is one of the few "cities" that can boast a high-school graduation rate of 100 percent, according to the U.S. Census. That's because Binghamton University, N.Y. isn't really a city. It's just what it sounds like -- a university with a population so large (just shy of 6,200 residents at last official count) that it's a census-designated place.
Binghamton University comprises 0
Binghamton University, N.Y. is one of the few "cities" that can boast a high-school graduation rate of 100 percent, according to the U.S. Census. That's because Binghamton University, N.Y. isn't really a city. It's just what it sounds like -- a university with a population so large (just shy of 6,200 residents at last official count) that it's a census-designated place.
Binghamton University comprises 0.78 of a square mile and is located in Broome County, near the south-central New York-Pennsylvania border. What's odd, though, is that while the University is named after Binghamton and has a Binghamton address, its main campus technically is located in Vestal, N.Y. (Maybe the scholars at the University can explain this confusion?) The bottom line is that if you are apartment or house-hunting, your hunting grounds will be Binghamton and Vestal.
Technically, if you plan to live "in Binghamton University" your options essentially are a dorm room or faculty housing. In other words, if you want to have a life, you'll live in Vestal or Binghamton proper instead. As is the case with most university towns, your challenge finding housing around Binghamton University will be the fact that when you set out to search for places for rent in Binghamton, university students will be looking for rental housing too. Snap up the vacancies in the summer months when most students leave for break.
When you set out on your apartment search, make sure to bring along all of the documents a leasing agent may require. Most serviced apartment complexes require first and last months' rent, security deposit, and pet deposit (if you have one). You may also be asked to provide proof of income (or a recent bank statement) to prove that you're not a starving college student who won't be able to pay your rent.
Here are a few promising areas to check out when you're rental hunting in the Binghamton University area.
Town Center: This Vestal neighborhood located three miles north of the Pennsylvania border is steeped in history. Several U.S. Presidents (Teddy Roosevelt among them) have visited its picturesque streets. Here, most apartment and house rentals are circa 1940-1969. You'll find a large array of rental homes here in close proximity to Town Square Mall, Wal-Mart Supercenter, and fast-food options like McDonald's and Arby's.
Downtown Binghamton: If you want to live in the midst of the action and within close proximity to bars, restaurants, a thriving arts scene, (and the Price Chopper, because you'll need to eat) you'll want to live here. You'll find a large array of apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom apartments suitable for a roommate scenario in this bustling 'hood with an urban vibe.
The First Ward: If you have champagne tastes, the First Ward puts you in the heart of Clinton Street's renowned Antique Row. A handful of gilded gold-domed churches in the neighborhood add to this tony feel of this neighborhood. You'll find more rental homes than apartments in the First Ward, and you'll be across the tracks from the West Side (and its high concentration of supermarkets, restaurants, banks and strip malls).
It goes without saying that Binghamton University is a hub of local activity here. But it's not the only game in town. The city of Binghamton's got a zoo, a philharmonic, a theater league, an opera, a museum, a minor league baseball team (the Binghamton Mets), and an American Hockey League team (the Binghamton Senators). Hungry? You'll find a plethora of dining options from which to choose (Lost Dog Cafe, McGirk's Irish Pub, and Tranquil Bar & Bistro are a handful of hot spots.)
Outdoor recreational opportunities abound in southern New York. In the winter, Binghamton University students and faculty head to the local ski slopes. In summer, New York's finger lakes are popular destinations for boating, swimming, and fishing. Local lakes and parks are plentiful, as are events like Binghamton Live on the Waterfront summer concert series, Downtown Binghamton Framer's Market, and Binghamton First Friday art-gallery stroll.
Finally, when you live near Binghamton University, you're a short drive to urban hubs including Scranton, Pa.; Syracuse, NY; Albany, NY; Rochester; NY; and New York City. Boston, Toronto, Montreal, and Washington, D.C. all are about a six-hour car ride away.
