So I was scrolling through some housing data and realized something pretty interesting about affordable college towns in America. Turns out if you're smart about where you go to school, you don't have to be completely broke all the time. A lot of students are dealing with crazy rent and living costs, but there are definitely pockets where things are way more manageable.

I found this breakdown of the cheapest college towns, and honestly the Midwest dominates the list. Iowa alone has two spots in the top tier. The data pulled averages from 2023 and combined rent prices with overall cost of living indices to rank them. What's wild is how much cheaper some places are compared to the national baseline.

Some standouts worth knowing about: Columbia, Missouri is running around $1,068 for average rent with costs sitting at about 90% of the national average. Ames, Iowa is even tighter at $1,028 monthly. Then there's Rexburg, Idaho which people call one of the safest and most budget-friendly spots in the country. Binghamton, New York actually has the lowest overall cost of living score in the rankings, even though rent is a bit higher at $1,279.

Laramie, Wyoming is interesting if you're into outdoor stuff—skiing, hiking, that whole vibe—and it's still reasonable financially. Manhattan, Kansas (yeah, the other Manhattan) has Kansas State and keeps rents under $1,200. Starkville, Mississippi and Bloomington, Indiana round out the picture, both coming in below national averages across groceries, utilities, and transportation.

If you're picking a college and money's a factor, looking at these cheapest college towns could genuinely change your financial situation over four years. The difference between paying $1,500 a month in rent versus $1,000 adds up fast.