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<p>Yes, I do. I lived in North Carolina for most of my life and have visited Durham (and Duke) numerous times. Durham gets a bum rap mainly as a result of northern transplants to the RTP area who think that Durham is "ghetto" and would rather stay in their McMansions in Cary or Carrboro. There has been a ton of redevelopment in downtown Durham, and there are plenty of bars, restaurants, and shopping destinations to keep pretty much any prospective Dukie (Dookie?) entertained.</p>
<p>I have never been to Ithaca, but it seems like a fabulous college town and I'm sure it has Durham beat in that respect. But if one wants a little of that atmosphere at Duke, it be easily obtained via a short trip down U.S. 501 to Chapel Hill (about six miles). </p>
<p> [quote=Sam Lee] Why assume "all other things being roughly equal" except weather?
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<p>Because the statement would make virtually zero sense otherwise. You have to isolate the one variable under examination; there is no way of knowing how different individuals would prioritize multiple factors. Note that I did NOT say Durham's weather is definitively better than Ithaca's. I prefer the weather of Virginia or North Carolina (the interior parts, at least - the coast is too humid), while others may enjoy Ithaca for the four distinct seasons and access to winter recreation. There is no right or wrong answer.</p>