Going to college soon? If you're looking for party schools, there's a list for that. If you're looking for the best schools by academic excellence, there's a list for that, too. But if you're looking for a place to live and go to school that offers a top-notch all-around experience that is safe and affordable, WalletHub has done the leg work for you.
The website evaluated 326 U.S. cities and towns on their academic, social and economic opportunities for students as well as other key factors, such as the quality of higher education, crime rates and the cost of living.
With an overall score of 67.32, Ann Arbor, Mich., comes in at No. 1
Four of the Top 10 cities are located in the South: College Station, Texas (2); Gainesville, Fla.(5); Atlanta, Ga. (7); and Austin, Texas (8).
Besides Gainesville, Florida had multiple cities ranked as some of the best college towns in the United States.
Other Florida cities found on the best list were Orlando (20), Tallahassee (22), and Tampa (30). Near the bottom of the list were Boca Raton (83), West Palm Beach (96), Miami (100), Fort Lauderdale (125), Jacksonville (232), and Port St. Lucie (289).
Here are the Top 10 best college towns:
1. Ann Arbor, Mich.
2. College Station, Texas
3. Iowa City, Iowa
4. Provo, Utah
5. Gainesville, Fla.
6. Pittsburgh, Penn.
7. Atlanta, Ga.
8. Austin, Texas
9. Cambridge, Mass.
10. Columbia, Mo.
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