Looked at vassar, middlebury, wesleyan, but I am looking with a LAC with a better college town and more socially diverse type of student body?
Any suggestions? Thoughts?
Smith isn’t quite as prestigious or selective as those three, but Northampton is a really great town to be in, and the student body at Smith seemed fantastic when I visited and passed through. Depends on whether you would be comfortable at a women’s college, though.
Best in terms of what?
If you’re looking at Northampton, there are five colleges there, remember? (More or less. Some are further awy from Northampton, but there is an extensive bus route, for free, that services all of the 5 schools).
Amherst, UMass-Amherset, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Hampshire
There’s a big difference between a college being in a town and being accessible to a town, though. Amherst can be a 30 minute bus ride from Northampton, while Smith is right in the middle of downtown. I would agree that Smith, Mt. Holyoke, and Amherst are all good options for OP to check out. Amherst is the most prestigious of the three, but I do think Smith is the best situated.
I personally like Claremont. And it has train access to LA.
Not sure what you mean by “best” town. We thought that Dickinson’s set-up with Carlisle was pretty great – lots of affordable restaurants in a cute, safe town. All walkable. Probably less diverse than you’re looking for.
Amherst might be your best bet.
You might want to check out the schools in Ohio (Oberlin, Kenyon, Denison). Of those, Oberlin is probably most like Wesleyan. Denison’s town is very cute and the student body has been diversifying over the years.
The other thing you might consider is a LAC in a more urban area (like Macalaster).
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What are your stats?
I agree with hufflepuffle and Smith is really the only one of the 5 at Northampton. Amherst is within walking distance of “downtown” Amherst but Northampton seems much cooler and that seems to be the general impression.
How about Bucknell and Lewisburg?
Furman=Greenville
What geographical range will you consider? If you’re willing to leave the mid-Atlantic/New England, your options will expand.
Can you define the qualities you seek in a “college town”?
Most LACs will not be hugely diverse in socioeconomic terms because of cost. Amherst and Vassar are better than most. Mount Holyoke has a very large international population (about 25%) if you are willing to consider a women’s college.
Bowdoin in Brunswick ME and Lawrence University in Appleton WI are both in really nice towns.
Haverford and Bryn Mawr are in very nice suburban areas with easy access to Philadelphia.
I’d call none of them “college towns” because the colleges don’t dominate the towns but they are nice places to spend 4 years with easily accessible restaurants and amenities.
@doschicos Have to say that Haverford is better for the town, but not by much. Bryn Mawr area, only 5 minutes away, has nothing going in the town section. Like, there’s one restaurant that’s family style and not that good, a Staples, and another restaurant that’s pricey and not that good. The only saving grace IMO is that both are fairly close to Philly.
Wellesley is a very nice college town. Carleton in Northfield MN has its charms.
Someone mentioned Bucknell. The street or 2 adjacent to the college is very cute, but beyond that its not much of a town and is routinely described as ‘in the middle of nowhere’
F&M in Lancaster could be worth a look
Kenyon and Oberlin…not so much.
Skidmore (Saratoga Springs)
Skidmore - Saratoga Springs
Lake Forest (in wealthy suburb of Chicago, but there’s Chicago)
Some in the Southeast:
College of Charleston (Right in downtown Charleston, SC)
Rollins College (Winter Park, FL)
Agnes Scott College (Decatur, GA)
Davidson College (Davidson, NC is a very pretty college town and Charlotte is close by)
I 3rd Skidmore but that’s precisely why I was asking what your stats are…Amherst, etc. are fantastic schools but are tippy-top. Someone who can get into Amherst might consider Skidmore an academic safety, even with a 35% acceptance rate.
Disagree @Dustyfeathers as someone who has spent time there. For example, there are several good Indian restaurants - Ekta and Tiffin, there is the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, and much more. Hop on a bike and there is plenty along and just off Lancaster Ave in the towns of Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Ardmore. Walk 5 minutes to the train station and hop on the train and your in Philly in 15-20 minutes. If you are not from the area, my guess is you didn’t explore much. Next time you are in the area, let me know and I’ll give you some suggestions. 
Much more to offer than most smaller towns of the top LACs.
Kenyon is not in a town. Other suggestions have been great so far.