Even though towns like Ann Arbor or Chapel Hill or Madison are rightfully considered some of the most dangerous college towns in America, there's really only one place that can accurately be called “the best college town in the US.”
That's right, it's Beantown.
Here are five reasons why Boston is the best city to attend college:
1. There are about a billion colleges in the same backyard.
Think about it; Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Northeastern, BC, BU and Brandeis all rank as Top 40 Colleges by US News.
What other metro area can even come close to this?
This isn't even mentioning all the other schools that may not receive as much national recognition as the aforementioned, but still attract plenty of interest and applications from prospective high school students.
If there is nothing going on at your school, there are sure to be plenty of parties on any of the other campuses, most of which are within walking distance when the weather is nice.
2. The sports hub of the universe.
Along with all Division I sports programs, professional teams are obviously extremely popular and a huge part of being a Bostonian.
In any given year, the talk of the town could be any of the big four teams. Fenway is one of the most famous professional sports venues in history, and Gillette Stadium, located in nearby Foxboro, is a modern, state-of-the-art complex that offers much more entertainment than just football games.
Fenway, Gillette and TD Garden, home to the Bruins and Celtics, also make fantastic concert venues.
In 2016, concerts by artists such as Kanye West, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen were held at these venues. And the host teams are also very good.
The Sox, Pats, Celts and B's have won a combined nine championships in the past 15 years. It seems like everyone else is playing for 2nd place.
3. It's so easy to get around.
With a wide variety of public transport options for our convenience, it is arguably the most accessible major city in the country.
The green, red, orange and blue lines can take you almost anywhere in the city at relatively cheap prices.
The commuter rail also runs through Boston's beautiful suburbs, making it an incredibly efficient commute home for kids who grew up locally.
4. It is literally run by students.
The college kids are about 25 percent of Boston's population, which is absolutely amazing if you really think about it.
The city is one of the top 25 most populous in America, with over half a million residents. Having a great social life is inevitable as a walk around town at any time will give you an idea of how many different schools are close by.
Dozens of sweatshirts with unwavering school pride are evident on every street, which creates a bad college vibe.
5. A small town feel in a big city.
Although the greater Boston area is widely considered one of the best metropolitan areas in the world, it somehow manages to maintain a small-town feel.
Boston is about three times smaller than New York and less than 1/5 the size of Los Angeles.
This can be great because it's usually not too overwhelming for students who aren't used to living in a city environment. Additionally, many of the students are not originally from Massachusetts, and many universities have a sizable international population.
It often doesn't feel extremely overcrowded like other large northeastern cities, as New York's five boroughs have about 8 million more residents than Boston.
Boston has it all. The city offers great food, sports, nightlife and education to all who are lucky enough to call it home for four years.
