College can be a great experience, but it leaves many groaning over high tuition bills and student loan payments. On top of those expenses, some students also have to afford to live away from home.
According to a 2021 survey from Hire-A-Helper, four in 10 college students who began college in 2020 moved away from home. WalletHub also recently said that student living expenses can come in at more than $35,000 for a 12-month period.
To help prospective students find the right college to fit their needs, WalletHub compiled a list of the best college towns in the U.S. This list is based on 31 key indicators such as affordability, environment, crime rate and quality education.
Austin, Texas, landed in the top spot.
WalletHub said the town – the 10th largest city in the U.S. as of this year, with a population of 974,447 – has the best balance of qualities that make a college town great, starting with education options. It is home to the University of Texas at Austin, Concordia University and St. Edward’s University and is ranked in the top 15 in the U.S. for quality of higher education, said the personal finance website.
The City of the Violet Crown also had one of the highest annual job growth rates in the nation. Students looking to relax after class have access to nightlife, live music, Tex-Mex cuisine, stand-up comedy and recreation at Lake Travis.
KRLD reported this week that Austin is campaigning to bring Amtrak to Texas, and that Tesla (which has a plant in this city) planned to celebrate the launch of its Cybertruck in Austin this Thursday.
Here’s the top 10 best college towns in the U.S., per the WalletHub study:
1. Austin, Texas
2. Ann Arbor, Mich.
3. Orlando, Fla.
4. Tampa, Fla.
5. Scottsdale, Ariz.
6. Las Vegas, Nev.
7. Charlottesville, Va.
8. Gainesville, Fla.
9. Raleigh, N.C.
10. Atlanta, Ga.
Rhonda Bush, assistant dean of the Executive Education at The University of Texas at Dallas, said that these top-ranked college towns aren’t just good for people taking general education courses and finishing up their senior thesis.
“College cities and towns are a great option for retirees,” she said. “Recognizing healthcare availability, various forms of transportation, educational resources for Lifelong Learning such as access to lectures, musical concerts, and sports, as well as museum and other cultural opportunities and entertainment venues and community activities.”
Bush said these towns are also great for families, who “can similarly take advantage of the opportunities mentioned for retirees.”
However, there were some college towns that ranked low on the 415-municipality list. Here, are the bottom 10 (East Los Angeles had the lowest score):
1. East Los Angeles, Calif.
2. Germantown, Md.
3. New Rochelle, N.Y.
4. Isla Vista, Calif.
5. Newton, Md.
6. Yonkers, N.Y.
7. Daly City, Calif.
8. Compton, Calif.
9. Miami Gardens, Fla.
10. Stony Brook University, N.Y.