I've kinda done it all, and theirs benefits to it all. First year of undergrad, "private dorm" right off campus. Second year apartment in the ghetto. Third and fourth year townhouse about 15 mins from campus that was pretty nice and affordable. First two years of med school I lived in the "student ghetto" right by the stadium.
I liked living about 15 mins away from campus. I had a nice townhouse where I split rent with two other guys paying about 350-400 each. That's probably the most bang for your buck. It was safe, easy to commute and I felt like I actually left school.
I also really liked living right by the stadium in the "student ghetto." I split a big house with a bunch of guys (not med students). Sure, there were nights were I was woken up by my drunken neighbors parties; but it was great being able to walk to class. I had a couple friends that lived within a couple blocks that really liked it.
Given the rental situation in Tally, I'd probably either stay close to campus and get a house, or go about 15-20 mins away and get a house or townhouse. I'd stay away from big apartments in Tally, their pretty overpriced and you're a lot more likely to run into an upstairs neighbor that listens to music at 2AM every night, parking problems and annoying landlords. If you stay near campus, look just west of campus (by the med school) or southwest. North of campus gets sketchy, as does directly south. If you get further out, Midtown is nice, down appalachee is fine as is northwest of town down Tharpe.
