Which Community Is Right For You?
University Commons and WaHu both put you within a few minutes of UMN. This guide walks through how each one is actually set up, so you can figure out which fits how you want to live.
If you've been apartment hunting near UMN, chances are University Commons and WaHu have both shown up on your list. Both are purpose-built student communities within a few minutes of the East Bank campus, both lease by the bed, and both come fully furnished. From there, the two communities make some genuinely different choices about bed count, amenities, and what's bundled into the rent. Here's what each one actually offers, sourced from what each community publishes about itself, so you can weigh them against what matters most to you.
Where you live shapes your everyday routine: how early you have to leave for a 9am, whether you can run home between classes, and how you get around the rest of the city.
Sits directly at the edge of the East Bank campus at 609 SE Huron Blvd, close enough that residents typically reach class on foot in just a few minutes. The Green Line's Stadium Village stop and several Metro Transit bus lines are a short walk away, with I-35W, Augsburg University, and Dunwoody College all close by.
Located at 1016 Washington Ave SE, right in Stadium Village. WaHu's own site lists the University of Minnesota as a 3-minute walk and Huntington Bank Stadium as a 4-minute walk, putting residents close to game-day energy as well as class.
Bed count and square footage decide how much privacy you get and how the cost splits with roommates, so it's worth comparing both before you sign.
Five floor plans across 1, 2, and 4-bedroom layouts:
| 1 Bed / 1 Bath | 501 sq ft |
| 2 Bed / 2 Bath | 727 or 905 sq ft |
| 4 Bed / 2 Bath | 1,111 sq ft |
| 4 Bed / 4 Bath | 1,205 sq ft |
Five bed-count options, from studio through 4-bedroom, the widest range of the two:
| Studio / 1 Bath | 377–535 sq ft |
| 1 Bed / 1 Bath | 550–686 sq ft |
| 2 Bed / 1–2 Bath | 838–855 sq ft |
| 3 Bed / 2–3 Bath | 993–1,022 sq ft |
| 4 Bed / 2–4 Bath | 1,415–1,428 sq ft |
Furniture and utilities are two of the easiest costs to overlook when comparing rent between two properties, so it's worth checking exactly what's bundled in.
Internet is included in every apartment, and each home has a full-sized in-unit washer and dryer. Every 1, 2, and 4-bedroom apartment is fully furnished as standard, with a living room package and a bedroom package for every bedroom, and furniture is included in the rent with no separate charge.
Every layout, studio through 4-bedroom, is listed as fully furnished with an in-unit washer and dryer as standard apartment features. High-speed internet is included as a standard feature as well. Leasing is by the bed across all floor plans.
Shared spaces are where a lot of student life actually happens outside of class, so it's worth knowing what each community offers beyond the apartment itself.
- 24-hour fitness center with strength, cardio & free weights
- 24-hour resident lounge with billiards and a foosball table
- 24-hour Academic Success Center with free printing
- Enhanced-privacy floor plans set aside for studying
- Multimedia area and outdoor grilling station
- Oversized hot tub
- On-site surface, carport, and garage parking
- Pet friendly; contact the leasing office for current pet fee, breed, and weight details
- Heated indoor pool and hot tub
- Outdoor fire pit and a dedicated game room
- 24-hour fitness center with cardio equipment
- Study lounges and private study rooms
- Business center, media lounge, and bicycle repair station
- On-site restaurants and retail
- Heated indoor parking and bicycle storage
- Pet-friendly spaces, plus on-site management and 24/7 maintenance
What Matters Most To You?
Use whichever list below matches your priorities as a starting point, then tour both in person to see the space for yourself.
University Commons Wins If You Want:
- A 24-hour resident lounge with billiards & foosball, plus enhanced-privacy study floor plans
- An oversized hot tub
- Furniture included standard, with no furnished upcharge
- A dedicated Academic Success Center with free printing
WaHu Wins If You Want:
- The widest bed-count range: studio through 4-bedroom
- A heated indoor pool and an outdoor fire pit
- On-site restaurants and retail
- Heated indoor parking
Check Out Both If You Want:
- An in-unit washer & dryer, standard at both
- A fully furnished apartment, standard at both
- Individual, by-the-bed leasing at both
- A walk to East Bank campus measured in minutes at both
University Commons is an Equal Housing Opportunity community, professionally managed by Coastal Ridge Real Estate.
Details for WaHu reflect that community's own published materials as of August 2026 and are provided for informational comparison only. Pricing, availability, square footage, and policies are subject to change; confirm current terms directly with each leasing office before signing.