Easy. I grew up in South Dakota and while it is certainly different than Montreal, comparing the two is like comparing a great white wine to a great red wine…it all depends upon what you eat with it. 
Now, comparing Montreal to someplace like Minneapolis is an entirely different situation. The Twin Cities are an outstanding place to live for many people and there is no only UMinn (an academically rigorous institution), but many smaller LACs that are highly rated as well. Given that you speak French you may feel more comfortable in Montreal, but that would be the case in nearly every US city. Maybe you could consider Louisiana. There is a sizable French-speaking population there as well. New Orleans has its own type of charm.
Like many students looking at colleges, you seem to have a somewhat twisted view of the quality of the institutions. Depending upon the choice of major, schools like Nevada-Las Vegas could be a top choice (one of the best Hotel Management schools in the world). You will also learn over time that within many larger Universities you will find a smaller enclave such as an Honor’s College that would compete with many elite schools. Keep an open mind are do some unbiased research. You may actually find that a city like St. Louis or Milwaukee or Denver has the charm of the city and nearby colleges that are outstanding if you look.
One of the many problems with the comparisons is that schools like Harvard educate about 1000-1500 students from each graduating class. Large public universities educate 10-20 times as many students. The statistics are diluted by the larger population. If, however, you were to compare the top 1000-1500 students at Alabama or Oklahoma or Missouri, etc. you would find that they are every bit as competitive and capable as those at high prestige schools. They also do just as well after graduation.