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Berkeley Housing Survey

Where Berkeley's Polisci Graduate Students Live and What it Costs

In March 2002 the Political Science Department did a survey of its graduate students to find out where they live, how they get to campus, how they found housing and what it costs. The following are a summary of what we found. It is based on responses from 55 current students.

1. How long does it take you, on average, to get from your home to Barrows Hall (home of the Political Science Department)?
   • 15 minutes or less    16
   • 16 - 30 minutes         28
   • 31 - 45 minutes         5
   • 46 - 60 minutes         3
2. What is your typical mode of transportation from your home to the University?
   • Walking                    15
   • Bike                          11
   • Car or motorcycle     4
   • Bus                            7
   • BART                        1
   • Depends on weather 11
3. What sort of living arrangement do you have?
   • Studio apartment                  9
   • One bedroom apartment     17
   • Two or more bedroom apt   21
   • Group house                         6
   • Non-shared house                2
4. How much do you pay monthly in rent?
   • Studio apartment               $400 - >$1000
   • One bedroom apartment   $475 - >$1000
   • Two or more bedroom apt $625 - $1600
   • Group house                      $480 - $1150
   • Non-shared house             $1400
5. How did you find the place where you are living?
   • Cal housing listing                    10
   • Friends                                       8
   • UC family housing                      3
   • Family                                         2
   • Commercial search services   16
   • Craigslist                                    10
   • Polisci staff                                  1
   • Driving Around                             1
   • Newspaper ad                             4
   • Off-market/informal                     2