Students at Western and McMaster report lower rents, shorter commutes and more family support

A Studenthaus survey found McMaster and Western students in Ontario report higher housing satisfaction, with median rents of $875 and $950 respectively, and about 78–80% receiving family financial support.

Students at Western University and McMaster University report higher housing satisfaction than many peers across Ontario. A Studenthaus survey of post-secondary living found McMaster students pay a median monthly rent of $875 and Western students $950. The report included 6,039 students nationally and more than 2,500 respondents in Ontario. It also found a large share of students rely on family help to cover housing costs. Key details: - McMaster's median monthly rent (on and off campus) was reported as $875; Western's median was $950. - The University of Toronto's St. George campus and Toronto Metropolitan University reported the highest median rent in the survey at $1,550. - The national average student rent was $1,146, and 66% of student renters reported receiving family help to cover housing costs. - At U of T, 83% of students who pay rent reported family help; at Western, 80% reported family help with 67% having rent fully covered; at McMaster, 78% reported family support with nearly two-thirds having housing fully paid. - Shared housing remains common: among students living with four or more roommates, 54% said they would prefer fewer housemates. - Commute time related to satisfaction: many Queen's students walk to campus in under 15 minutes; most Western and McMaster respondents reported commutes under 30 minutes; students in Toronto and Ottawa more often reported commutes of 45-plus minutes. Summary: The survey indicates that lower rents, shorter commutes and substantial family support are associated with higher student housing satisfaction in parts of Ontario. Undetermined at this time.