Two USC studios — one closer but needs a mid-semester move. Worth it? (no car, female grad student)

Hi! Incoming ECE grad student at USC, female, no car. Choosing between two studios, both inside the USC DPS patrol zone:

Option A — ~1.1 mi from Viterbi, north of campus (25th St area). Available in August, one move, settled for the year.

Option B — ~0.5 mi, newer building near Jefferson & Budlong. But it opens Oct 1, so I’d need temp housing for ~6 weeks and move again after the semester starts.

Two questions for people who actually walk this daily:
1. Is a 1.1-mi walk from the north side realistically fine every day — heat, carrying a laptop, coming home after dark? Or does it get old fast? 2. How does the Jefferson & Budlong area feel for a woman living alone? Comfortable walking to campus in the evening, or is it USC-Lyft-after-dark territory?
And honestly — is a closer/newer building worth moving twice mid-semester? Would love to hear from anyone who’s done a mid-semester move here. Thanks!

submitted by /u/Frequent_Long_2661
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