Quick response to the curfew question: Yes, 1 AM is the time where no outside visitor, even just from another complex, is allowed to check-in with you. You can go in and out of your own complex any time you want, no questions asked. You don't have a curfew and aren't forbidden from going out after 1 by any means! That would be absurd. Technically, visitors should also be out of your apartment by 1 AM... they don't come check your rooms, but sometimes around 1:30 or 2, they may have security checking the cars exiting property to make sure.
I started out living in Vista. I was in a 3-bedroom, top floor, so we had those pretty windows. Hard-wood floors as well. There was nothing "crappy" about it to me, and the only noise complaint I had would be people outside my room playing basketball at about 3 AM sometimes. There are always parties going on, but I was never bothered by hearing them or anything. A lot more of a social complex in general, I'd say, really easy to meet people and everything's close. You have the Learning Center where you can go rent movies, which is fun, and every building has washers and dryers, so you don't have to walk a long way with your laundry, which is good. Older-looking kitchen, a bit smaller bedrooms, pretty thin walls. Bus stop on site, 2 pools. Walking distance to Walgreens, Wendys, Chick Fil A and the convenient store was amazing.
Then I moved to Chatham, just for another experience. I absolutely loved it. The exteriors are so cute and quaint. I was in a 4 bedroom, and it was huge. Our bedroom was bigger than in Vista, and the living space was ridiculously big. We were on the first floor and had a tiny porch. Some of the apartments are REALLY gorgeous with balconies overlooking Little Lake Bryan, if you're lucky! Quieter than Vista, but not a dull place to live by any means. Buildings seem to be spaced further apart than Vista, which is so close. The pool is gorgeous and looks like an island oasis to me. haha. Bus stop on site.
Patterson. Never lived in this one, but had friends there. Honestly, I didn't see much difference between here and Chatham, besides the fact that Chatham is bigger, and I think there's something like each bedroom in Patterson has a TV cable hookup, whereas the others don't? My least favorite part about Patterson is just the carpet. I don't know what the name of it is, but it's that hard, thin kind. Chatham and Vista are fluffier. Just didn't seem as spacious, and definitely the quietest of the complexes. No bus stop, so you have to walk to Chatham's and use it, which I think would be an inconvenience.
Like people have said, The Commons is for International College Program participants. Depending on the bus you take to go to work, the bus may not always make a stop there unless a request is made. Epcot always stops there, Magic Kingdom only by request, and so on. All I can say is that when I got off work at MK at 4 AM, I was praying there were no ICPs on the bus so I could get home fast.
Moreso than the complex affects price range, I'd say the number of bedrooms does. The more bedrooms you have, the cheaper it will be. Vista 3 bedroom was incredibly cheap. But a Chatham 4 bedroom is not much more. It's up to you and your comfortability with a lot of people, potentially all of which may not speak English... ie: my situation when I moved to Chatham.
Chatham, Patterson, and The Commons are located on Little Lake Bryan and not really in walking distance of much, except the Outlet retail stores (Commons is closest). Like I said, Vista is the best for that purpose. However, a lot of good restaurants and stuff are located CLOSER to the Little Lake Bryan area around Vineland Ave. if you have a car. I'd go for one of the tri-houses if you have a car, Vista if you don't and don't feel comfortable always bumming a ride!
Plus, for the oldest housing it's not too shabby! Either Vista or Chatham for me I think...
