While Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma had the Mystery Machine as a home away from Coolsville, the Scooby Gang in demonic girlfriends.
But careful viewers that Xander had multiple apartments. More than that, each one held easily-missed clues into Xander's personality.
There Are No Basements in Southern California
Xander's history with apartments began in his parents' basement. While his friends moved into their own places, Xander's parents graciously offered him their own subterranean realm. They even gave him a deal on rent. It's hard to imagine why Xander found it so hard to like his parents, aside from their cruelty and constant fighting.
The weird thing is that homes throughout Southern California are known for not having basements. They're common in the East and Midwest states for coal storage, pipe utility preservation, and protection against frost. All things that aren't all that necessary in California, so why does Xander's house have a basement? Perhaps it is one more manifestation of the Hellmouth.
Xander is a nerd
Through the first season of the TV show to the final season of the comic book series, Xander is a total nerd. From comic book posters to action figures, Xander's apartment displays character depth the audience otherwise doesn't often get to see.
Among Xander's favorites were the Chris Evans role.
His heartbreaking relationship with his parents
Perhaps the saddest illustration of Xander's painful dynamic with his mom and dad is how little he is left with when he moves into their basement. This is the home of his childhood, but the basement may as well be that of a stranger.
What happened to all of Xander's things? Where are the mementos and heirlooms from his boyhood bedroom? Not a whole lot of time that has ed since then. All he is left with is a sad pullout couch from the '70s, a dial tv, and the muffled sounds of his parents fighting.
He sleeps with a teddy bear
In S2E16 "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," Xander loses Cordelia right before Valentine's Day, so he uses a love spell to bring her back into his arms. Unfortunately, the spell works on everyone but Cordelia.
Willow and her fellow ladies of Sunnydale High go crazy for Xander. Willow hides in his bedroom, hopeful to get some smooches, and it's here that the audience gets an eyeful. In the background, a large teddy bear is chilling on his bed. That's the kind of guy worth chasing even after the love spell wears off.
Leased A New Apartment After Being Split Into Good/Evil Xander
Superman isn't the only character who tried out splitting in two. An evil demon named Toth hit Xander with a spell that tore him into his best and worst selves.
One was as confusing as Superman in an electric blue costume, while the other was more like Superman in a bar, downing shot after shot. The spell did get Xander out of his parents' basement and into his own apartment, though, so the temporary split wasn't all bad. If only the same could be said for DC's boy in blue.
Xander Totally Plays Tomb Raider
In keeping with his addiction for strong-willed women who could kick anyone's butt, Xander remains an uber-fan of Tomb Raider from start to finish. It's no surprise that the video games entice him as much as Buffy, a somewhat real-life version of Lara Croft.
Xander occasionally expressed disappointment that everyone around him got neat powers along the way, while he was left with empathy and the strange ability to repair windows faster than Buffy can stake a vampire. In a video game like Tomb Raider, however, he can dispatch baddies and solve mysteries with abilities far greater than any mere polygon-based mortal.
Xander already knows if you'd be a good roommate
In a time of crisis, Xander and Dawn think they're going to die. Xander says well, if they survive, maybe he and Dawn should get an apartment together.
The season eight comics revealed that years later, Xander and Dawn did hitch a ride on the same apartment wagon. As for what happened in that new apartment, read season eight. And nine. And even ten. It's a comic series any fan of the show won't want to miss.
He Tones Down His Style For His Lady
In season 9 of the comic book series, Xander and Dawn are living together as a couple. It’s quite a normal space with none of the nerditage established in Xander's apartment during the TV series.
If Fox can put the X-Men on hiatus, it makes sense that Xander can, too. And just like that series, Xander and Dawn's relationship had ups and downs before audiences were left wondering if it would be better to just reboot all of Buffy together. Which, as it turns out, eventually happens in the comics.
But He Tones It Up For Dudes
People change over time. Sometimes, as with Spike, they turn from an evil blood-sucking vampire to an evil blood-sucking vampire boyfriend. Other times, as with Anya, they turn from a badass vengeance demon to a badass vengeance demon taking revenge on an ex.
Other times, as with Xander, the best parts stay the same. Xander changes up his style depending on the person he lives with, and once Xander moves in with Spike, his nerdiest traits come back full force. Their combined resources bring together an old concert poster for The Clash, a shocking clue that Xander still worships at the throne of Joss Whedon took a shot at the MCU.
There Are Cats Everywhere
No, really, there are cats everywhere in Xander's future apartment. In issue 11 of season 10, Spike saves six cats from kitten poker (don't ask). He brings them home to Xander but promises he will find them all a new home. How often does that happen? Not often in real life or comics. Of course, those cats never leave.
The real challenge is for readers to find a single of their apartment that doesn't include a cat. Apparently, the only temptation more powerful than human blood includes Angel's eternal regret and warm fuzzy snugs from a litter of kittens.