Chapel Hill, NC, United States

This university town boasts a nationally ranked public institution, but don't expect an easy, carefree college experience. UNC-Chapel Hill's 28,000 students face a heavy tax burden, with the public university receiving over $100 million in budget cuts in 2011 alone. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the school's protracted battle over a controversial Confederate monument. And while the campus is touted for its sustainability efforts, the university faced criticism in 2019 for failing to shutter its coal-fired power plant. Overall, Chapel Hill may appeal to those seeking an academically rigorous environment, but the practical realities of living here are far from idyllic.