APC's annual rental housing report notes developers' rise to deal with 'steep housing shortage,' but asks whether an 'affordability crisis' is being met. Plus other notes.
"[Former] Purdue President Mitch Daniels provided additional details to the University Senate on a range of initiatives at the West Lafayette campus designed to broaden Purdue's global impact and enhance educational opportunities for its students.
* Increasing success and value: Living on campus. Data shows that students living on campus have a retention rate that averaged 7.2 points greater over a 10-year period than their off-campus peers and a 10-year average GPA that is 0.15 points higher. Purdue plans to increase housing options so a majority of the student body has the opportunity to live on campus. New residence facilities would have classes taught in the residence halls, nearby faculty and adviser offices, and study areas."
On LinkedIn, Purdue posted/boasted that "Purdue University has achieved another historic milestone: ranked No. 1 globally among the world’s best managed universities." This was a selection by a little known group and it is extremely hard to understand how the university's management of enrollment and housing supports this. Story on Purdue News, 10/9/25. https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2025/Q4/purdue-tops-list-of-the-worlds-25-best-managed-universities/
Speaking with former neighbors, it goes both ways. Some will live in a house that is falling apart. Other's won't tolerate the smallest gap in a hardwood floor.
Considering the near-campus vacancy rate is still ~1.5% and Lafayette is 3%, I would say we are nowhere near saturation. The nationwide average vacancy rate is around 7% and Indianapolis' is close to 9%. The only parts of West Lafayette that have reached that point are the commuter complexes, which are usually the last resort for students.
Thanks, Dave. A reminder for everyone: the data is incomplete regarding bed occupancy. Only a 32.8% response rate from property owners/managers, covering 5,507 bedrooms. Unless the occupancy is 100% in the remaining bedrooms, the rate is even lower than the ~94.2% reported.
And without the threat of perjury on the survey (this document's data is used to justify policy decisions), the respondents could follow their listing narrative habits and embellish their responses.
The Student Renter survey is also missing the important question: Do you plan on staying in Greater Lafayette after you graduate?
All signs point to saturation. Below are highlights from the different areas for student housing that I found interesting:
Of the properties surveyed in the non-commuter C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area I) boundary:
- Over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 0.75% of the total units remained vacant, up from the 0% vacancy reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 10%.
Of the West Lafayette Area properties surveyed in the commuter area outside the C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area II) boundary:
- On average, over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 7.55% of the total units remained vacant, up from 3.03% reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 17%.
Of the Lafayette area properties surveyed in the commuter area outside the C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area III) boundary:
- On average, over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 2.91% of the total units remained vacant, up from 0% reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 5%.
From the report:
"Like the prior year, APC staff engaged 128 landlords and management companies throughout Greater Lafayette. Staff also partnered with West Lafayette city staff to recruit and encourage participation from additional landlords and management companies registered in the city’s rental inspection program. Our efforts resulted in 42 responding participants (up four from the previous year), with the rest either declining to participate or not responding.
The respondents who chose to participate represented a wide spectrum of rental properties from large complexes to small single-family detached rental homes in both the urban cores and urban peripheries of both cities. In all, properties of varying sizes and locations in our study area totaling approximately 3,914 residential units were surveyed (down from 5,330 the previous year) containing roughly 5,507 total beds."
"[Former] Purdue President Mitch Daniels provided additional details to the University Senate on a range of initiatives at the West Lafayette campus designed to broaden Purdue's global impact and enhance educational opportunities for its students.
* Increasing success and value: Living on campus. Data shows that students living on campus have a retention rate that averaged 7.2 points greater over a 10-year period than their off-campus peers and a 10-year average GPA that is 0.15 points higher. Purdue plans to increase housing options so a majority of the student body has the opportunity to live on campus. New residence facilities would have classes taught in the residence halls, nearby faculty and adviser offices, and study areas."
This false promise was made 12 years ago.
On LinkedIn, Purdue posted/boasted that "Purdue University has achieved another historic milestone: ranked No. 1 globally among the world’s best managed universities." This was a selection by a little known group and it is extremely hard to understand how the university's management of enrollment and housing supports this. Story on Purdue News, 10/9/25. https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/2025/Q4/purdue-tops-list-of-the-worlds-25-best-managed-universities/
Really impressive what Isabel and Rose Kaplan have done for girls in wrestling in Indiana, pioneers indeed
A rental needs to be in pretty sorry condition for a 20-year old to think it needs a renovation.
Speaking with former neighbors, it goes both ways. Some will live in a house that is falling apart. Other's won't tolerate the smallest gap in a hardwood floor.
Considering the near-campus vacancy rate is still ~1.5% and Lafayette is 3%, I would say we are nowhere near saturation. The nationwide average vacancy rate is around 7% and Indianapolis' is close to 9%. The only parts of West Lafayette that have reached that point are the commuter complexes, which are usually the last resort for students.
Thanks, Dave. A reminder for everyone: the data is incomplete regarding bed occupancy. Only a 32.8% response rate from property owners/managers, covering 5,507 bedrooms. Unless the occupancy is 100% in the remaining bedrooms, the rate is even lower than the ~94.2% reported.
And without the threat of perjury on the survey (this document's data is used to justify policy decisions), the respondents could follow their listing narrative habits and embellish their responses.
The Student Renter survey is also missing the important question: Do you plan on staying in Greater Lafayette after you graduate?
All signs point to saturation. Below are highlights from the different areas for student housing that I found interesting:
Of the properties surveyed in the non-commuter C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area I) boundary:
- Over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 0.75% of the total units remained vacant, up from the 0% vacancy reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 10%.
Of the West Lafayette Area properties surveyed in the commuter area outside the C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area II) boundary:
- On average, over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 7.55% of the total units remained vacant, up from 3.03% reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 17%.
Of the Lafayette area properties surveyed in the commuter area outside the C-permit “Commuter Permit Exclusion” (Area III) boundary:
- On average, over the course of the 2024-2025 school year, approximately 2.91% of the total units remained vacant, up from 0% reported in 2024.
- The highest reported vacancy for a single complex was approximately 5%.
From the report:
"Like the prior year, APC staff engaged 128 landlords and management companies throughout Greater Lafayette. Staff also partnered with West Lafayette city staff to recruit and encourage participation from additional landlords and management companies registered in the city’s rental inspection program. Our efforts resulted in 42 responding participants (up four from the previous year), with the rest either declining to participate or not responding.
The respondents who chose to participate represented a wide spectrum of rental properties from large complexes to small single-family detached rental homes in both the urban cores and urban peripheries of both cities. In all, properties of varying sizes and locations in our study area totaling approximately 3,914 residential units were surveyed (down from 5,330 the previous year) containing roughly 5,507 total beds."
Full report: https://www.tippecanoe.in.gov/DocumentCenter/View/52113/2025-Tippecanoe-County-Rental-Report