The Most Underrated College Towns Across America, From A to Z

53. Houghton, Michigan: Engineering Grit in the Upper Peninsula

Houghton, home to Michigan Technological University, sits on the edge of Lake Superior’s Keweenaw Peninsula—remote, wild, and utterly magnetic. With long winters and tight-knit communities, this is a town where resilience and brilliance go hand-in-hand. Students study robotics by day and snowshoe by night. Downtown Houghton offers old-school diners, indie coffeehouses, and Copper Country heritage in every storefront. Whether you’re watching the northern lights or joining Winter Carnival snow statue contests, Houghton turns harsh terrain into inspiration. It's a place where STEM meets snow, and the wilderness sharpens both minds and character.