scorecardThe 20 best college towns in America
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The 20 best college towns in America

20. Bellingham, Washington — home of Western Washington University

The 20 best college towns in America

19. La Crosse, Wisconsin — home of The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

19. La Crosse, Wisconsin — home of The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Population: 136,824

College student population in the metro area: 16,081

#1 Youth Unemployment

18. Jacksonville, North Carolina — home of The University of Mount Olive

18. Jacksonville, North Carolina — home of The University of Mount Olive

Population: 186,684

College student population in the metro area: 15,297

#3 Rent

17. Blacksburg, Virginia — home of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech)

17. Blacksburg, Virginia — home of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech)

Population: 180,649

College student population in the metro area: 41,438

#3 Bars and Restaurants

16. Rochester, Minnesota — home of the University of Minnesota Rochester

16. Rochester, Minnesota — home of the University of Minnesota Rochester

Population: 170,519

College student population in the metro area: 11,363

#4 Rent

15. State College, Pennsylvania — home of Pennsylvania State University

15. State College, Pennsylvania — home of Pennsylvania State University

Population: 159,341

College student population in the metro area: 39,577

#5 Bars and Restaurants

14. Athens, Georgia — home of The University of Georgia

14. Athens, Georgia — home of The University of Georgia

Population: 159,341

College student population in the metro area: 39,577

#5 Bars and Restaurants

13. Fargo, North Dakota — home of North Dakota State University

13. Fargo, North Dakota — home of North Dakota State University

Population: 167,166

College student population in the metro area: 21,346

#1 Rent

12. Lafayette, Indiana — The metropolitan area is home to Purdue University

12. Lafayette, Indiana — The metropolitan area is home to Purdue University

Population: 212,704

College student population in the metro area: 44,252

#2 Innovation

11. Charlottesville, Virginia — home of the University of Virginia

11. Charlottesville, Virginia — home of the University of Virginia

Population: 227,179

College student population in the metro area: 26,327

#3 Youth Unemployment

10. Bloomington, Illinois — home of Illinois State University

10. Bloomington, Illinois — home of Illinois State University

Population: 189,628

College student population in the metro area: 25,689

#2 Arts and Entertainment

9. Columbia, Missouri — home of the University of Missouri

9. Columbia, Missouri — home of the University of Missouri

Population: 172,738

College student population in the metro area: 32,287

#4 Labor Force

8. Manhattan, Kansas — home of Kansas State University

8. Manhattan, Kansas — home of Kansas State University

Population: 98,643

College student population in the metro area: 17,537

#5 Labor Force

7. College Station, Texas — home of Texas A&M University

7. College Station, Texas — home of Texas A&M University

Population: 242,453

College student population in the metro area: 58,018

#1 Bars and Restaurants

6. Bloomington, Indiana — home of Indiana University Bloomington

6. Bloomington, Indiana — home of Indiana University Bloomington

Population: 163,726

College student population in the metro area: 41,211

#2 Bars and Restaurants

5. Iowa City, Iowa — home of the University of Iowa

5. Iowa City, Iowa — home of the University of Iowa

Population: 164,043

College student population in the metro area: 33,358

#3 College Educated

4. Ithaca, New York — home of Cornell University and Ithaca College

4. Ithaca, New York — home of Cornell University and Ithaca College

Population: 104,592

College student population in the metro area: 28,164

#2 College Educated

3. Flagstaff, Arizona — home of Northern Arizona University

3. Flagstaff, Arizona — home of Northern Arizona University

Population: 138,039

College student population in the metro area: 24,832

#1 Diversity

2. Champaign-Urbana, Illinois — home of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2. Champaign-Urbana, Illinois — home of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Population: 207,584

College student population in the metro area: 47,895

#1 City Access

1. Boulder, Colorado

1. Boulder, Colorado

Population: 199,129

College student population in the metro area: 31,958

#1 Innovation

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