Washington Post names Southern Tier, NY village as the USA's Ultimate College Town

Neal Simon, The Evening Tribune
·3 min read

Looking for the USA's Ultimate College Town?

According to a data analyst at the Washington Post, that distinction belongs to Alfred, N.Y.

Washington Post staff writer Andrew Van Dam defined the Ultimate College Town by ranking U.S. Census Urban Areas with the largest share of college students. Urban Areas follow population-density patterns, not municipal borders.

Home to both Alfred University and Alfred State College, students make up a remarkable 85% of the town’s population of roughly 4,500, the Post reported.

Named the Ultimate US College Town in a Washington Post survey, Alfred's Hot Dog Day has brought Alfred State College and Alfred University students together every spring for decades.
Named the Ultimate US College Town in a Washington Post survey, Alfred's Hot Dog Day has brought Alfred State College and Alfred University students together every spring for decades.

Van Dam, who writes the "Department of Data" column each week for the newspaper, described Alfred as "wedged into a hilly expanse of western New York, far enough from any city or landmark that its precise location is tough to describe.

"Alfred is defined by public Alfred State College and private Alfred University, which face off across its main street. If you go left at the town’s only stop light, you’re on one campus. Turn right, you’re on the other. Now that’s a college town."

Van Dam called Alfred “the collegiest,” a term he coined.

Alfred is well ahead of second-place finisher Prairie View, Texas, home to Prairie View A&M University. The student share of Prairie View's population is 78%.

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Officials: Rankings prove Alfred has 'picture-perfect' environment

Alfred University and Alfred State officials were thrilled to embrace the new honor, saying in a joint press release that, "Winning the number one national ranking for the Ultimate College Town proves that Alfred's picture-perfect environment away from big city worries stands out among all other university and college towns in the country."

Alfred Village Mayor Becky Prophet said Alfred is made up of "three communities that coalesce into a single multifaceted gem."

Prophet added, "There is nothing like the sum of the Alfreds anywhere in the United States or, perhaps, in the world. We are the most collegiate of all college towns. We are an excellent place to grow up. We are a fine place to raise a family. But most of all, Alfred is the best place to combine daily life and learning."

15 New York state towns make Washington Post rankings

Five towns with the 50% or higher student share of the local population are in New York, which is more than any other state, according to the newspaper. Ohio has three such college towns and Pennsylvania has two.

Other New York state towns to make the Ultimate College Town top 20 include:

  • No. 7: Potsdam, home to SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University, 60% student share of the town's population.

  • No. 8: Hamilton, home to Colgate University, 60% student share of the town's population.

  • No. 9: Geneseo, home to SUNY Geneseo, 59% student share of the town's population.

  • No. 23: Ithaca, home to Cornell and Ithaca College, 45.9% student share of the town's population.

  • No. 12: Delhi, home to SUNY Delhi, 54.8% student share of the town's population.

Overall, 15 out of the top 150 ranked college towns are in New York state.

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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Washington Post names Alfred, NY as College Town USA