<p>Perhaps this is a contrarian view, but I think a college town that is "too good" can detract from the school. If there is a lot to do in the town and the town is easily accessable to the students, the students end up dispersed around a greater area. By comparision, schools with nice campuses but not particularly interesting or accessable towns tend to be more cohesive, with the students all on campus together and not wandering off somewhere with their little cliques</p>
<p>All about Portland Oregon baby...</p>
<p>Willow, I agree that being surrounded by a city like San Francisco, LA, New York, Chicago, Montreal etc... can take away from the campus experience, I think being surrounded by an intellectual small town like Charlottesville or Madison or Providence can actually complement the campus experience.</p>
<p>Charlottesville, VA and Burlington, VT</p>
<p>cambridge, MA (harvard, MIT.. not that the MIT kids are enjoying it)
evanston, IL (northwestern... the cambridge of the midwest/chicago)
georgetown, DC (georgetown.. the cambridge of DC)
Westwood, LA (UCLA... the cambridge of LA)</p>
<p>..get the picture?</p>
<p>Amherst, MA (even has a six flags!)
Eugene, OR</p>
<p>I agree on Charlottesville, VA</p>
<p>I am a CU Boulder alum and I can objectively say that it is one of the greatest college towns in the country. I have visited many of my friends around the country who attended a wide variety of colleges and have yet to come across anything that compares to Boulder. The location of the town is so unique and breathtaking by any standards. The campus has such beautiful buildings and the social life is unbeatable for students. I strongly suggest you consider CU Boulder if you're looking for a great school, in an incredible college town, situated in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Check out the website to get an idea of what I'm talking about. Good luck!</p>
<p>Boulder, CO
Fort Collins, CO
Charlottesville, VA
Chapel Hill, NC
Austin, TX
College Station, TX</p>
<p>I second Iowa City (University of Iowa). V. good.</p>
<p>State College, PA</p>
<p>Ithaca, NY</p>
<p>Best college towns, in my opinion:</p>
<ul>
<li>Boston/Cambridge, MA.</li>
<li>Amherst/Northampton, MA.</li>
<li>Berkeley, CA.</li>
<li>Ithaca, NY.</li>
<li>Athens, GA.</li>
<li>Burlington, VT.</li>
<li>Chapel Hill, NC.</li>
<li>Austin, TX.</li>
</ul>
<p>San Luis Obispo, CA. It is a dream of a college town. And no, I am not an alum.</p>
<p>College Park
Colorado Springs
Vancouver
Raleigh/Durham
Asheville</p>
<p>^ College Park and Durham belong more on the worst college towns list.</p>
<p>I've always wondered about Austin. I've never been there, but it seems like it is a decent-sized city. Would it still exist without UT? Or is it reliant on the school?</p>
<p>
[quote]
^ College Park and Durham belong more on the worst college towns list.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've heard good things about both (although I have heard Durham has a ton of crime), but ok. Certainly wouldnt be my top choices. I didnt add the ones that've been said already.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I've always wondered about Austin. I've never been there, but it seems like it is a decent-sized city. Would it still exist without UT? Or is it reliant on the school?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Austin probably has the best music scene in the US.</p>
<p>Evanston, IL.</p>