From WalletHub December 17, 2014

With college application deadlines approaching and students planning their visits to prospective college or university campuses, the leading personal finance social network WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2014’s Best & Worst College Cities & Towns in America. 

In order to find the cities and towns that offer the best or worst combination of academic, social and economic environments, WalletHub ranked 280 U.S. cities based on 23 key metrics. Some examples from the data set include the quality of higher education, crime rates and the cost of living.

Honolulu ranks 185th overall:

• 256th for “Wallet Wellness”
• 34th for “Youth-Oriented Environment”
• 246th for “Opportunities”

Key Stats

• The housing cost (rent of a two-bedroom apartment) is three times higher in San Francisco than in Johnson City, Tenn.
• The adjusted cost of living for young people is two times higher in Honolulu than in Memphis, Tenn.
• The cost of higher education is 10 times higher in Waltham, Mass., than in Laramie, Wyo.
• The number of students per capita is 12 times higher in Oxford, Ohio, than in Amarillo, Texas.
• The number of nightlife options per capita is 28 times higher in Las Vegas than in Miramar, Fla.
• The number of violent crimes per capita is 57 times higher in Detroit than in Orem, Utah.
• The percentage of part-time jobs is three times higher in State College, Pa., than in Alexandria, Va.