Im not sure 'popular' is the right word.
Cheap enough to be viable is closer to the mark.
Swanwick/Whitely is a much different area - Boscombe has loads of B&Bs because it is close to the sea front with a beach for one, and offers a cheaper alternative to Bournemouth for two.
Swanwick is mainly residential, without an existing large B&B sector.
I suspect until some enterprising (Swanwick ATCOs with a bit of spare investment cash?) set something up you are going to be looking at finding a room as a lodger in a family home or setting up a house share with your fellow college inmates.
Or buy a boat and live in the marina....