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

45. Worcester, Massachusetts: Academic Density near Boston’s Reach

Worcester doesn’t just have one college—it has more than 10, including powerhouses like Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Clark University, and the UMass Medical School. This dense academic presence has turned the city into a quiet intellectual powerhouse, buzzing with biotech research, urban revitalization, and art-house flair. Its central location—just an hour from Boston—means residents enjoy both access to world-class resources and the affordability of a smaller, revitalized city. The recent downtown renaissance has brought new restaurants, co-working spaces, and art collectives, making Worcester a gritty, brilliant underdog that’s fast becoming a major player in the Northeast’s academic ecosystem.