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What factors do you consider when choosing which university to enroll at? Academics? The Party Scene? Professors? Majors? Campus Safety? Increasingly, students look at the location of a school. Of course, you want to attend a beautiful campus, but the surrounding neighborhoods can also be a big draw. In addition to the wonderful campus offerings, the connectedness of the local residents can enhance the college experience. In this case, students may be looking to attend school in one of the best college towns in America.

What is a college town?

College towns are beloved for their strong sense of community. The best college towns are usually linked by their connection to the college and its culture. For example, most residents have a common and strong love for the university’s sports teams and represent themselves as loyal fans. Plus, most people in college towns tend to be employed by or affiliated with the university in some way.

Because the demographics of college towns tend to be younger, the cost of living is generally more affordable. Think, college kids with little disposable income.

But just because the cost is living is more affordable, that doesn’t mean the town skimps on its recreation and entertainment opportunities. The best college towns in America generally have no shortage of dining and shopping options. With vibrant and bustling downtowns, residents and visitors alike can enjoy gourmet food, live music, and even local festivals.

If attending a school in one of the best college towns sounds like an option you’re highly considering, then you’ll want to stick around to see our list. We have assembled 55 of the best college towns in America. In doing so, we considered several factors, like:

• Entertainment options
• General livability
• School presence

However, it is important to note that the list is not a definitive ranking, and the order does not indicate a further ranking. These are all schools and communities with many opportunities, both educational and career-oriented.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Best College Towns in America 

1)

Those who enjoy exploring local parks and trails, boating on the lake, or dining in a vibrant culinary scene will love Madison. Flanked between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, Madison offers a variety of locally-owned shops, restaurants, and specialty stores on its iconic State Street. Plus, the city is also a hotspot for art and architecture lovers. The home of Frank Lloyd Wright, Madison offers many museums, architectural walking tours, and outdoor summer festivals.

Additionally, sports fans will know Madison for its Badgers, with D-1 teams in football, basketball, volleyball, hockey, and more. For those who love the outdoors, spotting a rare find while window shopping, or catching the next hotly-anticipated game, Madison has something for everyone.

• Total Resident Population: 272,903
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 49,886 (37,230 undergrad)

2) 

At downtown Main Street, residents and visitors alike are met with a vibrant community featuring a unique blend of restaurants, music venues, and shops. Bookworms will be particularly happy to know that Ann Arbor is home to several locally beloved bookstores to browse. For those looking to explore out in nature, the Huron River is conveniently located nearby, which offers opportunities for float trips, kayaking, and more.

In this college town, football is a major draw. With the University of Michigan stadium being the largest in the U.S. (yes, it’s true!), there’s plenty of room to cheer on the team with all your friends on game day.

• Total Resident Population: 119,875
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 51,225 (33,488 undergrad)

3) 

Known for its iconic college sports, Chapel Hill is also a city with a bustling and dynamic city life. With live music performances, long-standing cafes, like the Carolina Coffee Shop, and building murals, Chapel Hills offers little bit of everything. And the best place to check out everything is at Franklin Street downtown. With more than 200 restaurants, businesses, and shops, this area is the center for social life.

Plus, residents enjoy the ability to experience many outdoor spaces all year round. The city offers biking trails, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, greenways, and a nearby RiverWalk.

• Total Resident Population: 62,098
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 31,539 (19,743 undergrad)

4) 

When you think of Colorado, you typically first think of stunning mountain views and great hiking trails. While Boulder offers both of these things, the city is also home some of the best restaurant and arts scenes. In fact, Boulder was actually once named “America’s Foodiest Town” by Bon Appetit magazine!

Locals also enjoy regular farmer’s markets, coffee shops, and of course, thrift shopping. Pearl Street and Twenty Ninth Street are known for their historic buildings where locals can shop and eat to their heart’s content.

• Total Resident Population: 105,485
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 37,153 (~31,000 undergrad)

5) 

Home to one of the top universities in the country, this city is close to the San Francisco Bay. Because of its location, residents enjoy cool and comfortable weather all year round. This makes it ideal to enjoy spending time outside in a highly walkable city.

All that walking must really pay off, because Berkeley was actually named the healthiest city in America. So, if you enjoy an active lifestyle, a wide range of parks, or fishing on the marina, then Berkeley may be a good fit for you.

• Total Resident Population: 118,950
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 45,699 (33,078 undergrad)

6) 

Ames is unique in that it offers a “small town feel” but with many exciting big city offerings. For example, Ames is at the intersection of outdoor living, arts, and sports and recreation. With nature trails to hike, tribute shows and Broadway musicals to see, and college athletics to root for, this city offers something for everyone.

Rated highly as one of the top places for young professionals in the state, there is plenty of opportunity for growth in any career.

• Total Resident Population: 66,950
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 30,177 (25,332 undergrad)

7) 

Though it is typically regarded as a small town, State College has no shortage of opportunity. With hundreds of acres of parks to explore, nature centers, and historic walking tours, there are many chances to both get outdoors and learn something new.

Of course, the city is also known as the home of the Nittany Lions—the university’s college sports team. In fact, the Nittany Lion Shrine is a sculpture located on campus for both students and visitors to view.

• Total Resident Population: 40,745
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 73,250 (between University Park and Other Campuses); 42,223 undergrads at University Park

8) 

Those who love the outdoors will relish the thought of living in scenic Oregon. In this college town specifically, residents can explore the Williamette River Water Trail. A relaxing place for kayaking, paddling, and enjoying the scenery. For those who love art, this college town offers a self-guided tour of public art through downtown Corvallis.

Because of its location, it may not be a surprise to learn that Oregon State is one of the top colleges to study agricultural sciences. Its program for environmental science is also highly rated.

• Total Resident Population: 60,956
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 36,636 (31,035 undergrad)

9)

Residents and locals alike can enjoy many of the wonderful sightseeing opportunities this college town has to offer. Taughannock Falls State Park to enjoy impressive waterfall views. In fact, this park is only one of the popular hiking, biking, and running trails in the city.

If you’re looking for a night in, the State Theatre of Ithaca offers top-notch concerts and shows. Plus, there are plenty of other opportunities to catch live music in a variety of outdoor and historic venues.

• Total Resident Population: 32,870
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 26,284 (16,071 undergrad)

10) 

Of course, when you think of Florida, you think of sunshine. For outdoor lovers, this means Gainesville could be just what you’re looking for. With 8 state parks, hiking trails, and plenty of water to paddle, kayak, and explore, there are many outdoor adventures to be had.

But, Gainesville is also home to many museums and local galleries. Those who enjoy the refreshing blast of AC will be happy to take an afternoon looking at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Butterfly Rainforest, or Harn Museum of Art.

• Total Resident Population: 145,214
• Associated College:
• Total Student Population: 55,211 (34,552 undergrad)

Best College Towns in America (Continued)

City	Associated College	Resident Population	Student Population (undergrad)	Fun Fact
11)		75,233	22,130	Popular literary and writing community
12)		89,241	35,000+	YouTube co-founders are U of I alum!
13)		168,519	26,168	Fort Collins, Colorado inspired the design of Main Street U.S.A. at Disney World
14)		45,610	30,504	Home of Cascade Falls, Dixie Caverns, Lyric Theatre, and more
15)		45,373	16,793	UVA is home to Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning faculty
16)		201,731	31,933	Tallassee, Florida has the third tallest capitol building in the U.S.
17)		320,347	23,144	Lexington, Kentucky is known as the horse capitol of the world
18)		124,319	57,512+	The Texas A&M campus at College Station covers over 5,200 acres
19)		131,444	10,096	In 2008, Fargo hosted the largest pancake feed in the world—serving up over 34,000 pancakes!
20)		118,488	7,178	Cambridge is actually credited with the invention of American football

Best College Towns in America (Continued)

21)		425,096	39,248	If you like golf, then good news for you. There are more golfers per capita in this city than any other in the country.
22)		292,627	23,600 (total)	This city is credited as the birthplace of Arbor Day
23)		47,115	14,400+	Interestingly, this city is known as the carousel capital of the world
24)		144,451	15,421	Syracuse is known as one the “greenest” cities in the country
25.		95,794	19,241+	Lawrence, Kansas is rated highly for having some of the best pubic schools in the state
26)		71,4012	39,170	Amelia Earhart prepared her plane for her last around the world flight at the Purdue University Airport
27)		128,555	23,752	I’ve been to this college town! Their music and food scene downtown has a great atmosphere
28)		79,107	35,660	I’ve also been to the Simon Skjodt Assembly Center to see a college basketball game. The stadium is great!
29)		26,437	16,712	Oxford is home to William Faulkner’s “Rown Oak.”
30)		128,561	30,166	Athens is the birthplace of the nation’s first garden club

Best College Towns in America (Continued)

31)		54,680	25,048	Logan, Utah is the home of two zoos and many hiking trails, skiing, fishing, and golfing opportunities
32)		99,285	27,472	Kiley Reid’s latest book, “Come and Get It” takes place on the University of Arkansas campus
33)		177,923	19,568	The second-largest city the state, Eugene is known as a great city for arts and outdoors
34)		58,692	10,216	Grand Forks is rated highly for its public schools and as one of the best places for young professionals in the state
35)		36,001	1,386 (Claremont McKenna College)	Known for its trees, Claremont has been the winner of National Arbor Day Association’s Tree City USA award over 30 times
36)		302,898	24,503	Pittsburgh has over 400 bridges; more bridges than Venice, Italy!
37)		185,950	65,492	This city experiences over 300 days of sunshine each year!
38)		110,602	39,623	Tuscaloosa is actually one day older than the state Alabama
39)		75,907	23,134	Flagstaff is located in the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest
40)		47,340	40,483	East Lansing’s state capitol building is the only in the country to be designated as a National Historic Landmark

Best College Towns in America (Continued)

41)		221,776	4,027	Interestingly, this city is home to one of the largest ports in the U.S.
42)		56,123	14,885	Funnily enough, Bozeman is the sweet pea capital of the nation
		48,341	20,000+	This campus spans over 9,000 acres!
44)		78,864	18,450	Bloomington, Illinois is where big-named employer State Farm Insurance calls home
45)		37,819	22,854	Tourists can check out Emily Dickinson’s bedroom and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
46)		30,277	24,200 (Morgantown campus)	Interestingly, the first Mother’s Day took place in West Virginia
47)		19,756	19,405	You may have guessed by the name, but the town is named for explorer Daniel Boone
48)		44,595	11,336	Burlington is the most populous city in the state. In total, the state has over 7,000 miles of rivers and streams
49)		67,048	31,532	Davis, California is regularly named one of the most bicycle-friendly towns in the country
50)		120,686	4,134	This city is home to the Mark Twain Museum

List Continued

51)		40,746	7,739	The Cedar Falls Public Library is located downtown and is over 47,000 square feet
52)		53,829	15,046	This city is nicknamed “The Little Apple”
53)	&	189,563	4,807 (Providence); 7,639 (Brown)	If you love donuts and coffee, then you’ll be excited to know that this city has the most coffee and donut shops per capita of any city in the country
54)		974,447	42,244	Austin, Texas is the home of Whole Foods
55)		79,287	1,822	This campus is located close to the Blue Ridge Mountains and is perfect for nature lovers

Additional Resources

• 300 Best Colleges in the United States 
• 50 Best Honors Colleges 
• 25 Oldest Colleges in the US
• Southern Ivy Schools Ranked
• Ivy League Schools Ranked