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Wisconsin is home to one of the best college towns in the US, a new report says



Wisconsin is home to one of the best college towns in the U.S., according to a recent report from RentCafe.

Analysts used 12 metrics across three categories to rank college towns for the March 17 report. College towns had population requirements to be considered, including:

  • Must have minimum population of 10,000 and maximum population of 300,000

  • Student population must be a minimum of 10% of total population

After several other population-related factors narrowed down picks for the final list, the remaining 235 candidate towns were analyzed for their education, affordability and livability. Graduation rates, tuition and university score were among the 12 metrics considered.

Based on these metrics, Platteville ranked 20th in the U.S. and 7th in the Midwest.

Located in the southwestern region of the state, the city is home to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

Here's what to know:

How did Platteville rank?

Here are the overall scores Platteville received:

  • Total score: 92.21

  • University score: 61


What are the 20 best college towns in the U.S, according to RentCafe?

Here are the top 20 best U.S. college towns in 2025, according to RentCafe:

  1. Bozeman, Montana

  2. Pullman, Washington

  3. Gainesville, Florida

  4. Boone, North Carolina

  5. Clemson, South Carolina

  6. East Lansing, Michigan

  7. Moscow, Idaho

  8. Provo, Utah

  9. Ann Arbor, Michigan

  10. Stanford, California

  11. Bloomington, Indiana

  12. Athens, Ohio

  13. Ellensburg, Washington

  14. San Luis Obispo, California

  15. College Station, Texas

  16. Laramie, Wyoming

  17. Amherst, Massachusetts

  18. Manhattan, Kansas

  19. West Lafayette, Indiana

  20. Platteville, Wisconsin


Originally Published April 14, 2025 by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cailey Gleeson


 
 
 

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