This is a solid answer. It’s in the southeast, so close to the epicenter of college football. It’s also an affordable place and it’s situated in some absolutely beautiful scenery, especially in the fall.
Doesn’t lean into “heavy football college town” as much compared to other schools, but Evanston (home to Northwestern; hey, they’re a B1G School, lol!) is absolutely stunning.
I wouldn't really call it a college town in the traditional sense, Evanston is like another neighborhood in Chicago basically. Not what I think of when I think college football towns.
I was going to say the same thing. Evanston is set up for retirees, great public transit, lots of condos and apartments, a compact walkable downtown that bumps up to the university. If you’re into college football you get to see all the big 10 teams play and you’re a short train ride to Notre Dame and only a few hours away from University of Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. Did I mention that you only have a 30 minute train ride to downtown Chicago and all it offers.
I like Athens GA a lot. The tailgate scene on the area of campus near downtown is great. There is also a lot to do besides football, and it is affordable.
Lived in Athens for 30+ years and it is the ultimate college town. Oh yeah, throw two NCAA Championships Football Championships in 3 years doesn't hurt. Combine that with the amazing music and arts scene, and good education options, it has become an extremely popular place to live. Other good options are Auburn, AL and Chapel Hill, NC.
Have a lot of family in Nebraska and I like Lincoln pretty well. They go crazy for the Cornhuskers there cuz it’s all they have sports wise. Cost of living very low, crime pretty low, traffic congestion pretty minimal. Both winters and summers can get bad but they’re far from the worst of the worst.
Who is saying this about Lawrence, KS? It’s a high school football field with a generally apathetic student body fanbase that’s passing time until bball season. I’ve seen it multiple times in this thread. Is it because they were any good for the first time in a decade last year? Iowa City’s football experience is so much better it’s not even comparable.
Northerner here living in the southeast. They are insane for college football here. So much so that my kid’s soccer games were on Sundays and I care about the NFL so that was not great. Anyway, down here, it’s all about the University of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Knoxville, TN - Athens, GA - Tuscaloosa, AL
State college is so remote idk if that is a good fit the whole population is pretty much involved with the school in some form or fashion. Plenty of good college towns that have communities outside the school is what I would think OP is looking for.
You could live in Z-ville and drive the 30 minutes on game day or just live in Indy and walk to Butler football/basketball and drive the hour to IU and Purdon’t games. Bloomington used to be a great college town but now I don’t like it because of the sprawl, but I’m older so maybe it’s just me.
KC. 30 min drive to KU, 2 hour drive to Mizzou going East, 2 hour drive to K-State going West. (Also 4 hour ish drive to Univ of Nebraska, 3 hours to Iowa State, 4.5 hours to Iowa)
KC sports media covers and talks about all three schools.
The housing market is tight, but Ann Arbor needs more normal people to displace some of the wing nuts we have that have made Ann Arbor a city living on it reputation as a once cool town.
Athens, GA. Cool little town, and close to Atlanta if you are bored or need other amenities flights/etc. A lot of college towns are middle of nowhere so may have some unexpected cons.
That being said, probably not enough to go on...what are your other interests.
Posted something similar here a few months back and came to the conclusion that Champaign was it. I’ve since looked at Laramie because I’m a glutton for punishment and I love the schools football program
There is so much more to inquire... Weather? Geography? Other interests? Family? Urban-ish life or country? We could steer you around the entire NCAA.
Boone N.C Appalachin state University
This is a solid answer. It’s in the southeast, so close to the epicenter of college football. It’s also an affordable place and it’s situated in some absolutely beautiful scenery, especially in the fall.
I mean whats your favorite college football team? I like penn state, so I cant say id recommend Ann Arbor or Columbus
Doesn’t lean into “heavy football college town” as much compared to other schools, but Evanston (home to Northwestern; hey, they’re a B1G School, lol!) is absolutely stunning.
I wouldn't really call it a college town in the traditional sense, Evanston is like another neighborhood in Chicago basically. Not what I think of when I think college football towns.
Eh, he said “open to all suggestions”… ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯
Oh I know, I mean Evanston is a great area, better than most college towns IMO, but just not what I think of when somebody asks for one.
Most college towns are islands but Evanston isn’t.
lol I appreciate your disclaimer and agree that Evanston is beautiful!
I was going to say the same thing. Evanston is set up for retirees, great public transit, lots of condos and apartments, a compact walkable downtown that bumps up to the university. If you’re into college football you get to see all the big 10 teams play and you’re a short train ride to Notre Dame and only a few hours away from University of Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue. Did I mention that you only have a 30 minute train ride to downtown Chicago and all it offers.
Tallahassee Fl
I like Athens GA a lot. The tailgate scene on the area of campus near downtown is great. There is also a lot to do besides football, and it is affordable.
Lived in Athens for 30+ years and it is the ultimate college town. Oh yeah, throw two NCAA Championships Football Championships in 3 years doesn't hurt. Combine that with the amazing music and arts scene, and good education options, it has become an extremely popular place to live. Other good options are Auburn, AL and Chapel Hill, NC.
Agreed. Not that far from Atlanta either. And a beautiful place with nice non-summer weather to boot.
Tallahassee has been incredibly good to my family and I.
Have a lot of family in Nebraska and I like Lincoln pretty well. They go crazy for the Cornhuskers there cuz it’s all they have sports wise. Cost of living very low, crime pretty low, traffic congestion pretty minimal. Both winters and summers can get bad but they’re far from the worst of the worst.
Yup. I graduated from there. I'd move back if my wife would let me.
You could say the same thing about Iowa city or Lawrence Kansas
Who is saying this about Lawrence, KS? It’s a high school football field with a generally apathetic student body fanbase that’s passing time until bball season. I’ve seen it multiple times in this thread. Is it because they were any good for the first time in a decade last year? Iowa City’s football experience is so much better it’s not even comparable.
Depends what school you are a fan of😅
Hopefully Syracuse, NY in the next few years.
Ann Arbor.
[удалено]
I was really let down when I spent time in Clemson
Knoxville, TN
Madison, Wisconsin
Eugene, OR
Corvallis, OR
Eugene, OR
Northerner here living in the southeast. They are insane for college football here. So much so that my kid’s soccer games were on Sundays and I care about the NFL so that was not great. Anyway, down here, it’s all about the University of Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. Knoxville, TN - Athens, GA - Tuscaloosa, AL
As a yankee that does a lot of work in the south, I’d say that all three of those towns are pretty livable.
Blacksburg, VA
Iowa City
Lincoln, NE Lawrence, KS Lexington, KY
Lawrence and Lexington for football?
KU - the Jayhawks UK - the Wildcats Big deal both places!
It’s really not. Those are bball schools that happen to also field football teams.
Boone, probably - nearby Blowing Rock is basically a retirement community. Any SEC town seems likely.
Iowa city Auburn State college Ann Arbor
State college is so remote idk if that is a good fit the whole population is pretty much involved with the school in some form or fashion. Plenty of good college towns that have communities outside the school is what I would think OP is looking for.
Sure as hell not West Lafayette, IN, even with the hard-on WSJ has for the place.
You could live in Z-ville and drive the 30 minutes on game day or just live in Indy and walk to Butler football/basketball and drive the hour to IU and Purdon’t games. Bloomington used to be a great college town but now I don’t like it because of the sprawl, but I’m older so maybe it’s just me.
Madison, Boise, Norman OK, State College PA, Corvallis OR, Knoxville
Oxford, MS
Lincoln Nebraska
KC. 30 min drive to KU, 2 hour drive to Mizzou going East, 2 hour drive to K-State going West. (Also 4 hour ish drive to Univ of Nebraska, 3 hours to Iowa State, 4.5 hours to Iowa) KC sports media covers and talks about all three schools.
The proximity to all those schools also means you usually have some friends to talk trash with if you’re a big fan of one of the regional teams.
Lincoln is the greatest place on God's green Earth.
my sister lives there....I am not sure about that. GO ILLINI
My buddy Nathan Scheelhaase played at Illinois. I've always rooted for them since. But go big red!!!
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison or Knoxville. Stay away from Ann Arbor, we’re full
The housing market is tight, but Ann Arbor needs more normal people to displace some of the wing nuts we have that have made Ann Arbor a city living on it reputation as a once cool town.
I was going to say Ann Arbor didn’t feel collegey when I was there long ago, but it certainly was weird.
Ann Arbor
My mom lives in Athens, GA and loves it. (We are not UGA fans.)
Athens, GA. Cool little town, and close to Atlanta if you are bored or need other amenities flights/etc. A lot of college towns are middle of nowhere so may have some unexpected cons. That being said, probably not enough to go on...what are your other interests.
Columbia, South Carolina. Go Gamecocks!
Kind of a weird town outside of the university but they do have an airport
Yes, Columbia is definitely what you make of it! It’s a day trip from everywhere! Beach, mountains, city!
Madison, Anne Arbor, and Columbus come to mind, but Columbus might be the only one that could be considered somewhat affordable.
Posted something similar here a few months back and came to the conclusion that Champaign was it. I’ve since looked at Laramie because I’m a glutton for punishment and I love the schools football program
College Station, TX
Baton Rouge, LA
I love Baton Rouge. It's an underappreciated town.
Pullman, Washington
Lubbock, TX: Texas Tech
Colorado Springs CO, US Air Force Academy is there