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It’s generally recommended that high school students take a school’s size into consideration when planning for college, but its location is just as important. Adjusting to big city life after growing up in a small town is exhilarating for some yet traumatic for others, and the opposite is also true.

From the scenery and weather to the bar and restaurant options—among other things— multiple factors contribute to great college towns. The American Institute for Economic Research used data from the Census Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal agencies to its create the AIER College Destinations Index, a list of the best college towns.

Some of the 12 criteria used to create the best college towns lists include the following:

• Number of students per 1,000 population
• Percentage of students that are non-U.S. residents
• Percentage of young adults and percentage of total population with college degrees
• Average rent for a 2-bedroom apartment
• Per capita income

The top three best college towns by total residential population are included below:

Best College Towns (Less than 250,000 residents)

1. Ithaca, NY | Home to Cornell 911³Ô¹ÏÍø and Ithaca College

Cornell 911³Ô¹ÏÍø

2. Ames, IA | Home to Iowa State 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Science and Technology

3. State College, PA | Home to Pennsylvania State 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, 911³Ô¹ÏÍø Park

Major Metropolitan Areas (Over 2.5 million residents)

1. Boston, MA | Home to Boston 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Northeastern 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Suffolk 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Boston College, the 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Massachusetts Boston and others

Northeastern 911³Ô¹ÏÍø

2. Washington, DC | Home to American 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Catholic 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of America, Gallaudet 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, George Washington 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Georgetown 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Howard 911³Ô¹ÏÍø and others

3. New York City, NY | Home to Barnard College, Columbia 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, New York 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, The New School, Fordham 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, The Julliard School and others

Mid-sized Metropolitan Areas (1 to 2.5 million residents)

1. San Jose, CA | Home to San Jose State 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, National Hispanic 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, California 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Management and Technology and others

San Jose State 911³Ô¹ÏÍø

2. Austin, TX | Home to 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Texas at Austin, St. Edward’s 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, Austin Community College, Concordia 911³Ô¹ÏÍø and others

3. Oklahoma City, OK | Home to Oklahoma City 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Oklahoma and others

Small Metropolitan Areas (250,000 to 1 million residents)

1. Ann Arbor, MI | Home to 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Michigan, Concordia 911³Ô¹ÏÍø Ann Arbor and others

911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Michigan

2. Madison, WI | Home to 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Wisconsin—Madison, Edgewood College and others

3. Boulder, CO | Home to 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado at Boulder and Naropa 911³Ô¹ÏÍø

College towns are popular with families and retirees, too—large universities commonly have thousands of employees and the cost of living is often lower thanks to the influx of students and their spending dollars during the school year.

While a school’s academic offerings and affordability are critical factors to consider, its location will most likely also play a role in your decision making. Some students are willing to go to college just about anywhere as long as it’s a long drive from home. Others wish to stay closer to their families and hometowns. Be sure to research a school’s crime statistics and too!

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Posted on 6 Mar

Melissa Rhone earned her Bachelor of Music in Education from the 911³Ô¹ÏÍø of Tampa. She resides in the Tampa Bay area and enjoys writing about college, pop culture, and epilepsy awareness.