Top 50 College Towns You'll Want To Live In From Sea To Shining Sea

By

Lisette Marie

February 18, 2026

35. Blacksburg, Virginia: Appalachian Spirit near Roanoke's Revival

Burruss Hall at Virginia Tech. Photo Credit: Envato @hokietim

Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech, combines a strong engineering and agricultural focus with a friendly, outdoorsy Appalachian spirit. Surrounded by mountains, it offers endless hiking and biking opportunities. Just 45 minutes away, Roanoke is undergoing a significant revitalization, transforming into a vibrant hub for outdoor recreation, healthcare, and arts. This proximity provides Virginia Tech students and residents access to a growing urban center, complementing Blacksburg's close-knit college town feel with broader economic opportunities and a surprisingly robust cultural scene.

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