32 Underrated College Towns You'll Want To Move To

22. Murray, Kentucky – Murray State University

Murray is the textbook definition of underrated. Tucked into western Kentucky and anchored by Murray State University, the town radiates friendliness and affordability. You’ll find a bustling main street with coffee shops and boutiques, plus the nearby Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area for hiking, kayaking, and campfire weekends. Murray’s size makes it feel personal—professors know your name, and locals wave on the sidewalk—but it still hums with student energy. Whether you're into agriculture, business, or the arts, Murray’s pace of life gives you space to focus, breathe, and belong. Quietly brilliant, just like its students.