best college town for family
Sep 25th, 2002, 09:27 PM
#1
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best college town for family
There was a very interesting and long thread a while back about the best college town, from a student's perspective. I am interested in relocating my family to a nice, safe, lively and "artsy" community for retirement purposes. Since we have a young daughter I am also interested in the quality of public schools. Any ideas for us?
Sep 26th, 2002, 05:09 AM
#6
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Certainly Bloomington, IN!!!! I went to school there. It is a great town to retire and even raise a family. There is plenty to do as far as cultural events. Cost of living is low, the air is clean, people are nice, you can go to sporting events, go to Lake Monroe in the summer. Indianapolis is just an hour north. Bloomington has won many awards for best college town!!!
Sep 26th, 2002, 05:18 AM
#7
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Well what type of climate do you like? There are plenty of good quality college towns all over. but if you don't like the west coast, its kind of silly to nominate California schools. Same thing goes for not liking extremely cold weather (that would nix the northeast) or extremely hot weather which would nix the Florida area.
To me a "college town" means that the entire town revolves around the university and that the town doesn't really have an independent identity. (which would nix Sanata Barbara listed above) Further, the town itself is not a large city but may be in proximity and a half day (5 hour) or less driving distance to a major city with a large international airport.
Some quintessential "college towns" I can think of off the top of my head are Knoxville, TN (UT Vols), Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tarheels), Bloomington, IN (IU Hoosiers), Baton Rouge, LA (LSU Tigers) .
If you give us some more info on area of the country or climate you prefer, we can help you out more. I am assuming (maybe incorrectly) that since you are talking an area to retire to, that you may want a warmer or at least temperate climate, rather than the cold north. Let us know.
To me a "college town" means that the entire town revolves around the university and that the town doesn't really have an independent identity. (which would nix Sanata Barbara listed above) Further, the town itself is not a large city but may be in proximity and a half day (5 hour) or less driving distance to a major city with a large international airport.
Some quintessential "college towns" I can think of off the top of my head are Knoxville, TN (UT Vols), Chapel Hill, NC (UNC Tarheels), Bloomington, IN (IU Hoosiers), Baton Rouge, LA (LSU Tigers) .
If you give us some more info on area of the country or climate you prefer, we can help you out more. I am assuming (maybe incorrectly) that since you are talking an area to retire to, that you may want a warmer or at least temperate climate, rather than the cold north. Let us know.
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Sep 26th, 2002, 06:05 AM
#10
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I've never been, but I know that Madison, Wisconsin has been rated as one of the best cities to live in the U.S.
Princeton, NJ is a geat town. However, home prices there can be fairly high as it is a commuter town for NYC.
Of the college towns I've visited, I'd put Chapel Hill and Charlottesville, VA high on a list.
Princeton, NJ is a geat town. However, home prices there can be fairly high as it is a commuter town for NYC.
Of the college towns I've visited, I'd put Chapel Hill and Charlottesville, VA high on a list.
Sep 26th, 2002, 07:27 AM
#11
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Have to vote for Asheville, NC. It's not a college town in the traditional sense, having little identity beyond being home for a college. Instead, it's a city with its own unique, strong identity that happens to be home to several colleges, most notable of which is UNC-Asheville, voted among the top five public liberal arts universities in America.
It's definitely an "artsy" community, consistently named a top US arts destination, on the same par with places like Santa Fe. Also, it's home to the most public art per capita of any city its size in the country, and is proud to call itself the home of a cultural community the likes of which would do a city many times our size proud. That impressive arts community is one of the reasons that Asheville is so lively, another criteria you listed as important to you, but it's certainly not the only reason. Asheville constantly holds festivals, is home to several professional sports teams, and boasts nightlife that's the best in the state.
The city itself is unbelievably beautiful both because of an impressive stock of historic, unique buildings, and because of its natural surroundings -- three mountain ranges and two rivers converge at Asheville. A substantial chunk of that natural beauty is preserved for posterity as well. Over a million acres of government-owned land start at Asheville's doorstep, held in national forests, state forests, a national park, and several state parks.
And the schools, you ask? Buncombe County operates its own school system seperate from the City of Asheville's school system, but both received very high marks in the latest ABC rankings -- very high marks that placed local schools among the best in the state. That's saying something when you realize that Charlotte's schools were named best in the nation among major cities. So, if Asheville's and Buncombe County's schools can compete with Charlotte's, which were best in the nation... well then!
It's definitely an "artsy" community, consistently named a top US arts destination, on the same par with places like Santa Fe. Also, it's home to the most public art per capita of any city its size in the country, and is proud to call itself the home of a cultural community the likes of which would do a city many times our size proud. That impressive arts community is one of the reasons that Asheville is so lively, another criteria you listed as important to you, but it's certainly not the only reason. Asheville constantly holds festivals, is home to several professional sports teams, and boasts nightlife that's the best in the state.
The city itself is unbelievably beautiful both because of an impressive stock of historic, unique buildings, and because of its natural surroundings -- three mountain ranges and two rivers converge at Asheville. A substantial chunk of that natural beauty is preserved for posterity as well. Over a million acres of government-owned land start at Asheville's doorstep, held in national forests, state forests, a national park, and several state parks.
And the schools, you ask? Buncombe County operates its own school system seperate from the City of Asheville's school system, but both received very high marks in the latest ABC rankings -- very high marks that placed local schools among the best in the state. That's saying something when you realize that Charlotte's schools were named best in the nation among major cities. So, if Asheville's and Buncombe County's schools can compete with Charlotte's, which were best in the nation... well then!
Sep 26th, 2002, 07:37 PM
#13
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Thanks for all your suggestions. Many of these towns have been on our list....it is nice to hear them mentioned again. We currently live in the Bay Area....generally like it very much...but it is a very expensive place for retirement. I have been part of academia all my life...that is why we are looking for the college community. I think they have a lot to offer. Asheville certainly sounds very beautiful and exciting.....unfortunately the health plans covered by my college are not tranferable to most of these locations. Too bad we don't have national health insurance in this country. I hate to think of being tied down to a location because of a health plan.
Well..... we are working on a new contract this year that might give us more options with the health plans.
Well..... we are working on a new contract this year that might give us more options with the health plans.
Sep 28th, 2002, 07:21 PM
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I just returned from Lawrence, Kansas (went for a wedding). I must say, this is one of the nicest college towns I've been to. When I used to think of Kansas, I would think "flat and boring", but the Eastern Kansas was not like that at all. I was amazed by the amount of greenery and trees. Really, a lovely and safe town.
