Located along the Puget Sound with a stunning backdrop of the Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainier, the city of University Place is one of the most visually stunning places in the Evergreen State to call home. University Place apartments for rent are new to the scene, as the city is young, but with everything this Pacific Northwest hub has to offer, apartments in University Place are sure to become a popular commodity for Washington residents.
One of the biggest reasons to live in a University Place apartment for rent is the city's desirable location. The city is halfway between the capital city of Olympia and the state's largest city, Seattle, so living in University Place apartments puts you between the heart of it all. The city also has several fun events, including Duck Daze, a celebration of the end of the rainy season, and the Cider Squeeze, a fantastic old-fashioned cider harvest festival that features bluegrass music, vendors that serve apple pie a la mode and fresh-squeezed cider using cider presses, a long-standing tradition in the community. University Place has around 31,000 residents, so living here has plenty of small-town charm, but still puts you near two large cities so you don't feel isolated.
Like many other communities in the Pacific Northwest, living in a University Place apartment for rent puts you in a higher cost of living bracket. According to City-Data, the cost of living index is around 9 percent more expensive than the current U.S. average. However, according to AreaVibes, the median rental rate for University Place is lower than Washington's rate, so it's actually pretty affordable to live here if you plan on staying in-state. The cost of a gallon of gas is $3.71, which is similar to the state's overall cost for fuel. Living in University Place means you can save money and yet still be in the middle of everything in the Evergreen State.
One of the most popular institutions close to apartments for rent in University Place is the University of Puget Sound, a beautiful campus that boasts more than 100 fields of study. Pierce College is another nearby school that is very popular with area students. According to the Economic Board for Tacoma-Pierce County, some of the major employers in University Place include the Franciscan Health System, Fred Meyer Stores and Soundcare, Inc., showing the diverse economy in the area.