Palo Alto is centrally located in the Bay Area -- allowing for quick and easy access to all the diversity this region has to offer! Residents live in a variety of communities in the Bay Area. Most live in the communities directly surrounding LPCH, including Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Mountain View, and Redwood City. (Rents tend to be less expensive in Redwood City and Mountain View than Menlo Park and Palo Alto, and both Redwood City and Mountain View have rent control which helps control costs for subsequent years’ rents). Some residents commute from as far south as San Jose and as far north as San Francisco.
Tips
1. Do not limit yourself to the immediate campus area
It may be more convenient to live in a centrally located house or apartment, but many residents live as far north as Redwood City, or as far south as Sunnyvale. Rent tends to be less expensive in Mountain View and Redwood City than Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
2. Reach out to prior residents and fellows
The best housing has been handed down from resident to resident. You never know what secret apartment has been kept in the program year after year! Many apartment complexes also do not advertise and may not pop up as opportunities right away.
3. Utilize online resources
If you are searching from afar, Craigslist and other housing websites are very useful. SUPost is an internal website for Stanford affiliates and can also point you toward good options.
4. The Cardinal
The Cardinal is a subsidized apartment complex that rents based on a priority ranking system with preference given to Stanford faculty, employees and affiliates. It is located in Redwood City, and is close to grocery stores, restaurants, the Redwood City library and movie theater.
Resources
The University Housing Office is open Monday-Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is located at 565 Cowell Lane, on campus. They maintain a cardex file of rental listings, and university identification is required to access their services. A copy of your House Staff contract would suffice. This office does answer inquiries, and we can help get you access to a computerized list of their rentals.
Subsidized housing for Stanford affiliates
Interns and residents are not eligible to live on the Stanford campus in graduate housing, or to purchase condominiums and houses for sale on campus land. You are, however, able to rent apartments at University-owned apartment complexes at subsidized prices.
1. Welch Road Apartments
Located at the corner of Pasteur Drive and Welch Road, Welch Road is the home of many residents at Stanford, and is the closest complex to LPCH. The rent is cheaper than many equivalent sized apartments off campus. There are a variety of studio, lofts, and one bedroom apartments to choose from.
Applications for the Welch Road apartments are included in your registration packets and should be returned promptly to House Staff Administration. Incoming interns and residents are given top priority for any available units. Assignment is based on a lottery held in early May of each year. Residents are allowed to live at Welch Road during their initial Stanford residency only, and must move once they have completed residency.
2. Stanford West Apartments
Stanford West Apartments were completed in the spring of 2002. One, two, and three bedroom apartments are within walking distance from the Medical Center. The complex has an on-site day care center.
3. The Colonnade
The Colonnade is a subsidized apartment complex that rents based on a priority ranking system with preference given to Stanford faculty, employees and affiliates. It is located in Los Altos, and is close to grocery stores and many restaurants.
For additional housing resources, see this link: https://fsh.stanford.edu/
