Mankato, MN, United States

Mankato may be Minnesota's second-largest university town, but it's a far cry from the bustling metropolises many Americans dream of when moving abroad. With over 145,000 living alumni worldwide, Minnesota State University, Mankato is the main attraction, accounting for a staggering 32.1% of the local population between 15 and 24. While the school offers over 130 undergraduate programs and has produced 11 Fulbright recipients, the bureaucracy can be a persistent headache - just ask the students who rebelled against the administration's demotion of the university's first female principal back in 1873.

On the bright side, the campus itself is a sprawling 303-acre affair, complete with housing for up to 2,900 students, two astronomy observatories, and an athletics complex that has hosted the Minnesota Vikings' summer training camp for over 50 years. But those looking for big-city culture and nightlife will likely be disappointed - Mankato is very much a college town at its core.

In short, Mankato is best suited for students and academics content with a quieter Midwestern lifestyle, away from the noise and congestion of America's coastal hubs.