The vacancy rate for Cambridge market-rate rental units this spring was .56 percent, according to an industry survey.

"You have almost a completely filled rental market in the city of Cambridge," said James J. O'Reilly, a spokesperson for the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.

A survey conducted three times a year by the Rental Housing Association--a part of the board that consists of owners and managers of Massachusetts rental housing--has shown a sharp drop in market-rate rental housing availability in the past two years.

There was no corresponding fall in the percentage of Harvard undergraduates choosing to live off-campus, which has varied between 3.28 percent and 3.82 percent over the past five years, according to Broderick.

The average rent for a Cambridge market-rate unit this spring was $1,024, according to the survey. The average market-rate rent for greater Boston was $967.

Monthly rents for a student usually cost $350 to $400 in the Harvard area, and $650 for a one-bedroom studio apartment.

"The way you save is by living with as many people as you can," Esposito said.

Christine J. Cynn '96-'98 said that her two-bedroom apartment in Somerville costs $800 per month; with two other roommates, it costs each roommate $267 per month. She said that utilities during the summer totaled $40 to $50 all together.

An Individual Feel

Both off-campus Dudley affiliates and Co-op residents praised the House for what they described as its diverse and intimate character.

"When Harvard has a tendency to make students feel like a number, I think Dudley House can make students feel like individuals," Adair said.

"It's a small enough House that when we have House-wide activities, there's a sense of community and people are eager to attend them," Adair said.

Like other Houses, Dudley offers undergraduates advising services through its senior tutor, premed tutor, pre-law tutor and fellowships adviser. One of the Dudley Co-op's two resident tutors also serves as an adjunct adviser on sexual harassment, and the House fellowships adviser also addresses sexual-orientation issues.

Graduate students serve as fellows, earning stipends in exchange for organizing events open to all Dudley graduate and undergraduate students.

Dudley has fellows for art, outings, athletics and social events. The House also features an orchestra, literary events, a jazz band, a chorus and public-service opportunities.