Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Livability.com Names the Top 10 Best College Towns, 2015

  • 08/05/15

FRANKLIN, TN – Living in a college town allows residents to tap into the economic stability that universities provide and the creative energy that students bring. Even if you’re not a student, being a college town resident will certainly keep you entertained. With this in mind, Livability.com has named the Top 10 Best College Towns, 2015. These cities provide supportive places for students to thrive both academically and socially, endless entertainment options and cultural and economic enhancements from their area universities.

When choosing the best college towns, our editors first analyzed data from the Census, Esri and other sources to find cities with a high concentration of schools and a highly educated population. They looked at cities that have a high population of 25- to 29-year-olds as an indicator of the town’s ability to retain graduates who decided it’s a cool enough place to stay after graduation. They also looked for diverse towns where education is a dominant employer. Some bonus points were given to towns with Division I athletics because, like it or not, strong sports programs help define college towns. The availability of rental housing and the affordability of that housing were also considered.

Finally, our editors narrowed down the short list based on their experiences crisscrossing the nation and based on further research into town and gown relationships.

“For most college-bound kids, this is really the first time they are choosing where they get to live,” says Livability editor Matt Carmichael. “It shouldn’t be the only consideration in selecting a college, but it should be factored in.”

Top 10 Best College Towns, 2015
1. Manhattan, KS
2. Durham, NC
3. Columbia, MO
4. Berkeley, CA
5. Denton, TX
6. Cambridge, MA
7. Gainesville, FL
8. Columbia, SC
9. Lincoln, NE
10. Bowling Green, KY

About Livability.com
Livability.com explores what makes small to mid-sized cities great places to live, work and visit. We examine issues related to livability such as walkability, cultural amenities, transportation, urban planning and sustainability through exclusive research and discussions on our blog. We celebrate the accomplishments of these cities through our monthly top 10 lists, our annual ranking of livable cities, our rich photography and conversations with readers in social media. Livability.com is a division of Journal Communications, Inc.

Featured

  • Texas Recruitment

    Texas Recruitment

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The University of Texas at Austin's Texas Recruitment has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Grand Prize award in the category of Renovation.

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • 144-Year-Old High-School Campus Debuts New Academic Facility

    San Diego High School (SDHS) in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new student services and classroom building; the project is part of a larger SDHS Whole Site Modernization project that began in 2022.