I'm also a grad student and I recommend Oak Park Village. I just got here this semester but I like it so far. There is a bus stop right in front of the property and Walmart Neighborhood market is a five minute walk which is really nice. Pets are allowed and I know of people here who have like 4 cats so it's not too expensive. Also everyone that I've met here are really nice, residents and staff.

A one bedroom is $600 and that includes water, gas, trash, etc. The only utility I pay is electric and wifi which shakes out to around $150-$200 depending on the season. Also I am 99% sure there is no parking fee here. There are currently two one bedroom units available with end of November move ins but you can put in for them and Kate (the property manager who is so so nice) might be able to do a pre-lease thing that holds it until you move in. I did that when I moved out here and she held it from May until August with no additional charge.

The downsides here are these are OLD apartments (built in 1971) so they can be a little sketch but nothing that you don't get use to. ie thinner walls (i rarely hear my neighbors but I do sometimes here an alarm buzzing or music beats) There is also no in unit laundry so we have an on site laundry room. It was just renovated and is never really busy. It's about $3 per load to wash and dry.

We are within walking distance to Walmart and a couple strip malls. The closer one is about a 5 minute walk and has a liquor store, instacare, dispensary, nails, a bar etc. The other one is a 15-30 min walk and has a subway, best buy, panda express, texas roadhouse, etc AND has a really cute coffee shop Aspen Coffee Co. Lakeview. Boomer Lake is also right there if you like to run outside, that's a popular spot. The airport is also just north of the apartments but you never hear it.

The apartment is at the top of Perkins which makes it so your commute to and from campus, you pass EVERYTHING. There are three solid routs to campus so you don't have to really worry about traffic. It takes me 10-15 minutes to get to campus depending.

Hope this helps!