<p>Lol, I love when people put big cities as “college towns.” Congrats, you have missed the point. </p>
<p>College towns are towns that gain most or all their livelihood from the school - like a community of just students, almost. Think Madison (best, sorry), Ann Arbor, Chapel Hill, Gainesville, etc. Towns that are dominated by the colleges. New York and Philly might be nice places to go to school, but they sure as hell ain’t college towns.</p>
<p>Why are college towns great (and imo better than big cities to go to college in)? Well, it’s amazing to have your whole town really be all about the school. I can walk into any store in Madison and there’ll be some Bucky Badger something I can buy if I want to. There are also usually a lot of things college students like, like bars/restaurants which are fairly cheap. Football game days, there is a HUGE, HUGE crowd of red just walking the streets all day (and that morning procession of people into the stadium is completely inspiring). My town is my college is my world for right now, and I’m all about that. Some college towns are boring though because they’re usually smaller, so it’s about finding the one that has plenty to do. Which is why Madison kicks ass :D</p>
<p>Ugh, now they’re accepting students with no reading comprehension skills? Come on. The thread is about the most awesome/most boring college towns. Since I have lived in Davis for 14 years, I know a lot about it, so I was commenting on it as a town… And yes, there is more to a college town than the students! For example, there are restaurants, parties, movie theaters, and other people who aren’t college students <em>gasp</em>. You have NO idea how Davis is, so I won’t bother trying to correct your views anymore. Don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for many college towns since I haven’t been to many, but after a year at Indiana University I conclude Bloomington, IN to be one of the most boring. It’s all strip malls and fast food restaurants with a small downtown area with lots of clubs/bars/music venues that you need to be 21 to get into no matter what. The majority of town is kind of shady and doesn’t feel very welcoming. And now that the football/basketball team are doing so poorly, the game day atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired.</p>
<p>I would have to agree that Madison is the best, and I give honorable mention to Iowa City, Lawrence KS, and Columbia MO.</p>
<p>@Calibabe: Again, you missed my point. You’re going to enjoy a town/city much more as a college student than as a high school student. That’s the same whether you’re in Davis, New York, LA, La Jolla, etc. As much as you dislike Davis, don’t deny that someone who comes there for college will enjoy it much more than you do.</p>
<p>And I can’t read? This thread is about best college towns, not best high school towns. There is no JC in Davis, so you have never gone to college there. I understand why you would find Davis boring, because I find Chico boring despite it being labeled a “college town”; that is because I’ve lived here for a long time and have only experienced the high school life here. </p>
<p>Oh, and to answer the OP’s question, Chico is a great college town.</p>
<p>I’m surprised no one has said anything about Amherst, MA. There’s a great downtown, lots of things to do on campus, and four other colleges around if you get bored of your own. It also fits the description of a real college town- the whole town is comprised of college-related things, as well as the restaurants and entertainment to go with it. Boston is not a college town. It’s got great colleges and great things to do, and college in Boston is a lot of fun, but there’s too much more in Boston than just college life for it to really be a college town. I’m not going to argue that it’s the best, because I don’t even go to college there, but it’s notorious for being the quintessential college town where I live.</p>
<p>1) Oxford MS- so amazing and laid back.
2) Columbia MO- the definition of a college town. Columbia survives because of mizzou.
3) St Louis MO- there is so much to do year round and there is always street performers and way to many bars. (;</p>
<p>Moscow, Idaho. Quintessential college town - population 22,000 and 12,000 of those are students. Great downtown area, lots of bars/culture/etc., tons of local shops, bike trails and outdoorsy things nearby. Loved my time there.</p>
<p>Bloomington, Indiana would be next on my list - only spent a couple days there, but totally loved it and will be moving there in August.</p>
<p>For those interested in a fascinating study of college towns, which are a uniquely American sociological phenomenon, check out a book called “The American College Town,” likely available at your college library.</p>
<p>Okay, I know this may stir the pot a little, but Chapel Hill is not all that great. The cost of living is very high compared to other college towns and there really isn’t a downtown, just one street, Franklin St., with a few clubs/bars and fast-food places. If you spend more than six months there, one predictable strip can become quite boring.</p>