Miami University's home makes top 10 list of college towns

Alumnni Hall

Miami's hometown of Oxford is listed as a top ten college town. (Picture of Miami's Alumni Hall.)

Miami University’s hometown, Oxford, took the third spot on Livability’s 10 Best College Towns 2014 list. Topped only by Ames, Iowa (Iowa State University) and Logan, Utah (Utah State University), editors say Miami students and Oxford residents “enjoy a low crime rate, a thriving arts and cultural scene, affordable housing and great schools.”

College towns are ranked on a variety of factors, including walkability, entertainment scenes, recreation opportunities, cultural amenities and affordable housing. Editors say they also look for cities with a high concentration of degree holders and 25- to 34-year-olds to see if the cities were places students would want to stay after graduation.

The rankings also look at the partnership between colleges and towns, and Livability editors say, “Oxford has evolved around the campus of Miami and grown with the school. Many historic homes, school buildings and stores, including those in Mile Square, create an almost whimsical link to the past.

"If you look at our overall Top 100 Best Places to Live list, you'll see many college towns at or near the top of the ranking," says Matt Carmichael, an editor at Livability. "For a midsized city, having a college or university in town can help move a place from being a good place to live to a great place to live.”