Surprise! Wisconsin’s Top College Town Isn’t the One You Think

Every college-bound family has that debate: which college town truly has it all? A new national ranking just dropped and one Wisconsin town scored big.

Of Course, the Best College Town in Wisconsin Is...

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If you were to ask any proud Sconie, especially one that hails from the glorious, brat-scented wonderland that is Madison — what the best college town in the state is, you'd get one answer: Madison. No hesitation. No doubt. Just "Madison, duh."

I mean how could it not be? Home of the flagship Univesity of Wisconsin campus, where Bucky reigns supreme, where State Street is a right of passage, and where students learn just as much from their textbooks as they do from drunken philosophizing at the Kollege Klub. It's iconic. It's lively. It's the college town, right?

Except, Apparently... It's Not

According to a new report from RentCafe, which analyzed 235 college towns across the country using 12 different metrics like affordability, graduation rates, and overall livability, the highest-ranking college town in Wisconsin isn't Madison at all.

Nope. It's... Platteville.

Yes, that Platteville. Tucked away in the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin, home to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and a solid engineering program, this little town earned an impressive 92.21 total score, placing 20th in the entire U.S. and 7th in the Midwest. The university itself scored a respectable 61 on its own.

A Win for the Underdogs

If you're a college-bound family weighing your options and you thought you had it all figured out because "obviously Madison" — maybe take a second look at Platteville. It might not have the Memorial terrace views, but hey, it's crushing the college town game.

MORE: 4 Of Guy Fieri’s Favorite Wisconsin Joints On Triple D