Oct 14, 2014 12:16 PM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

When searching for a college, one important factor not to be missed is what city or town the prospective student will be living in for the next four years.

If you are looking to live on campus, it is highly important to know what kind of place you will be moving to. For example, there are big cities, small cities and small towns.

The American Institute for Economic Research (AIER) ranked the best small cities for college students to live. Metrics include student life, economic health, culture and career opportunities.

Here are the top 10, click here for the full map, which includes several more major cities and small towns alike.

1. Boulder, Colo.

Population ≈ 103,000

Major school(s): University of Colorado - Boulder

2. Durham - Chapel Hill, N.C.

Population ≈ 300,000

Major school(s): Duke University, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

AIER ranks highly: research and development, innovation producers

3. Ann Arbor Mich.

Population ≈ 117,000

Major school(s): University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

AIER ranks highly: student concentration, culture, opportunity

4. Madison, Wisc.

Population ≈ 243,000

Major school(s): University of Wisconsin - Madison

AIER ranks highly: unemployment rate, city accessibility, research and development

5. Gainesville, Fla.

Population ≈ 127,000

Major school(s): University of Florida

AIER ranks highly: student concentration, international students, research and development

6. Fort Collins - Loveland, Colo.

Population ≈ 223,000

AIER ranks highly: arts and leisure, research and development, college educated

7. Lincoln - Metro Area, Neb.

Population ≈ 269,000

Major school(s): University of Nebraska

AIER ranks highly: cost of housing, unemployment rate, entrepreneurial activity

8. Bridgeport - Stamford - Norwalk, Conn.

Population ≈ 350,000

Major school(s): Yale University (New Haven)

AIER ranks highly: arts and leisure, college educated, earning potential

9. Trenton - Ewing, N.J.

Population ≈ 119,000

Major school(s): the College of New Jersey

AIER ranks highly: city accessibility, innovation producers, earning potetnial

10. Huntsville, Ala.

Population ≈ 186,000

Major school(s): University of Alabama - Huntsville

AIER ranks highly: cost of housing, innovation producers, brain drain or gain

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