<p>I'm assuming you mean downtown/the Loop as technically, living off-campus is living "in the city itself." Most undergrads don't, for the reasons you mentioned - it's too expensive. The commute wouldn't be that bad, especially if you had a car, but most people would rather live within walking distance of the school and then drive/take the L to stuff in the city. Then again, it's entirely possible to live far away from campus, as I know people who have gotten apartments on the Northside and just commuted in every day. Still a pain, though.</p>
<p>Thanks Jack. I think, in the end, the opportunity costs of living in the city are too high. Im excited to explore Hyde Park and the surrounding environs this spring and get a feel for the place. It will be my first time in Chicago!</p>
<p>where can I get mugged?</p>
<p>Everywhere. Seriously - it's a city. You can get mugged walking on Michigan avenue, or as your car stops for a light on the North side. You can get mugged right in the quads (it happens) and you can get mugged in the 'burbs. Hyde Park in itself isn't very dangerous but there are plenty of very rough neighborhoods in the immediate area and so people just walk/drive onto campus and into the neighborhood. </p>
<p>However,
- not walking outside the UCPD patrol zone after hours
- not walking alone after hours
- not walking around drunk after hours
- and taking taxis back to campus after dark instead of the L
will do a great deal towards preventing you from getting mugged. UC will go over safe practices a ton during O-week and older students will be able to give you all sorts of tips. </p>
<p>If you're looking for general boundaries, it's roughly held to be Washington Park on the west, the lake on the east, 53rd to the north and 59th to the south. Probably not a great idea to walk around outside there after dark. But like I said, there are no walls or boundaries around campus, so anybody who wanted to mug a college student could just walk on over to Hyde Park.</p>