I would suggest applying to live in
North Park. I didn't live there first year, but many of my classmates did. It's very convenient, the price is reasonable, and you don't have to deal with a landlord or utilities.
You can also use the
Upper Valley Rental List to try to find an apartment. I suggest looking in Hanover and Norwich, VT (both expensive but close to campus) and Lebanon, NH, West Lebanon, NH, and White River Junction, VT (these three if you don't mind driving).
I also seem to recall DMS admissions putting together a list of incoming first year students and their contact info and roommate preferences if you want to try to find roommates within the class. Admissions might still do this so you may want to call up admissions and ask Brenda if there is a list.