College Park, MD, United States

It's a tough sell to move to College Park, Maryland. The University of Maryland, the largest university in the state, dominates the area - over 38,000 students packed into just 1,250 acres. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the school facing multiple data breaches in 2014 that compromised over 300,000 records. And the campus, while expansive, is surrounded by urban forest and streams rather than thriving commercial districts. However, the university's $1.14 billion in annual research spending and status as a "Public Ivy" make it an appealing option for graduate students and academics seeking a prestigious institution with ample government connections. But for most, the relentless bustle and impersonal feel of a huge university town may be more than they bargained for.