Taking into account livability factors such as a city’s cost of living, public-school quality, the percentage of residents who hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and the overall strength of the area’s real-estate market, Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on cities, has created a list of the best college towns in the United States. The study focused only on places where undergraduates from a top-250 college make up at least 10 percent of the town’s overall population, Business Insider reports.
Cambridge, Mass., home to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, took the top spot on the list thanks to its great transportation system, plethora of dining options, and strong nightlife. The city has a population of 106,844 and a median rent of $1,656. The poor cost of living score is partially offset by an A+ nightlife rating.
Second on the list was Ann Arbor, Mich., home to the University of Michigan. With a population of 115, 985 and a median rent of $1,042, one of the nicest aspects is how well the campus and city flow together.
Ames, Iowa (Iowa State University), Boulder, Colo. (University of Colorado at Boulder), and Berkeley, Calif. (University of California at Berkeley) round out the top five.
To view the entire list of the 30 best college towns in the country, follow the link below.
