Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte, NC
Davis, CA
Colorado Springs, CO
Minneapolis, MN

You think Charlotte and Minneapolis are college towns?

I'm from MN and thin that Minneapolis could be a college town depending on what neighborhood. It's cold AF though, and expensive, and "Minnesota nice" doesn't mean "really nice" it means "fake nice."

We are considering Flagstaff, AZ, but curious what folks think about that town.

Anonymous wrote:Charlotte, NC
Davis, CA
Colorado Springs, CO
Minneapolis, MN

Mmm Colorado Springs can be expensive. Used to be cheaper, but hasn’t been for a while. It’s definitely a nice place to live though.

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a lower cost of living, access to cultural activities/sporting events, mild climate but with four seasons and access to good medical care and nearby major airport. Any recommendations from someone who has found a good combination of the above?

OP, wherever you settle, if you move to a college town - remember that the college was there before you, and it will be there long after you. So, if you move to a college town and expect to not take the good with the bad, you will be sorely disappointed. For example, students will be out and about late on weekends (and even some weekdays!) and they can be quite LOUD. You may not get the peace and quiet you hoped for in your retirement years.

Anonymous wrote:I just visited Princeton for no particular reason. I loved it.

Not LCOL, though. !!!

You have to be ready for the weather, but Ann Arbor is a great college town and you can't beat 25" from the Detroit airport, which is a Delta hub. We went direct from there to innumerable places. Health care is also fantastic.