North Carolina Has Two Of The Top College Towns in America
No matter what people say, I think the South has some of the best college towns. The decision to move to North Carolina for college was one of the best…
No matter what people say, I think the South has some of the best college towns. The decision to move to North Carolina for college was one of the best decisions of my life. My family and I took a 12-hour drive to see UNCC's campus and surrounding area before deciding to attend.
During my time on campus, I explored uptown and the Charlotte neighborhoods. I did not explore much of the surrounding North Carolina area. Why? Because I was about to be committed to going to a school for the next four years and needed to know what I was getting myself into.
As a follow-up to our report on 2022's College & University Rankings, WalletHub compared more than 400 U.S. cities of different sizes on 30 key indicators of academic, social, and economic opportunities for students. The data we collect ranges from the cost of living to the quality of higher education.
The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill took the number 13 spot on the list. NC State is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, right behind UNC. I love both of these towns and they have so much to offer. The farmer's market in Raleigh is my favorite. I definitely see why these were chosen for North Carolina. The top 14 towns are listed below.
| Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Wallet Friendliness | Social Environment | Academic & Economic Opportunities |
| 1 | Austin, TX | 63.6 | 209 | 10 | 23 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | 62.83 | 250 | 17 | 14 |
| 3 | Provo, UT | 62.3 | 22 | 63 | 45 |
| 4 | Orlando, FL | 59.96 | 80 | 4 | 141 |
| 5 | Oxford, OH | 59.35 | 3 | 1 | 304 |
| 6 | Gainesville, FL | 58.93 | 130 | 62 | 61 |
| 7 | Scottsdale, AZ | 58.92 | 309 | 140 | 1 |
| 8 | West Lafayette, IN | 58.8 | 39 | 39 | 112 |
| 9 | Rexburg, ID | 58.7 | 5 | 97 | 118 |
| 10 | College Station, TX | 58.33 | 28 | 53 | 125 |
| 11 | Orem, UT | 58.24 | 133 | 206 | 19 |
| 12 | Tampa, FL | 58.05 | 175 | 22 | 92 |
| 13 | Chapel Hill, NC | 58.03 | 185 | 72 | 55 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | 57.85 | 198 | 35 | 74 |
GALLERY: List of Animals Native to North Carolina
As found by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
