30 Best College Towns in America

The University of Florida, one of the largest higher education institutions in the country, is located in Gainesville, Florida. As is often the case in college towns, Gaineville has a young population. The typical resident is just 26 years old, about 12 years younger than the median age of 37.8 nationwide.

The culture and economy of Davis, California, are heavily influenced by the University of California, Davis. The school is also a major employer in the area, and partially as a result, Davis has an unemployment rate of just 2.7%, well below 3.9% national unemployment rate.

College Station, Texas, is one of only three U.S. cities home to at least 65,000 people where over 40% of the population is enrolled in college. The city is dominated by Texas A&M University, nearly the largest higher educational institution by enrollment in the United States.

The University of Indiana, Bloomington is one of the largest schools in the United States. Like many college towns, Bloomington has a young population. The typical resident is less than 24 years old, about 14 years younger than the median age of 37.8 nationwide.

Ames, Iowa, is the only U.S. city with a population of at least 65,000 where more than 45% of residents are enrolled in college or graduate school. The city is home to Iowa State University, one of the largest schools in the country. The school is a major employer in the area, and partially as a result, the unemployment rate in Ames is just 1.5%, less than half the 3.9% national unemployment rate.