Livability.com has listed Bowling Green in its 2015 Top 10 College Towns to live in.

Livability ranked the cities on five major criteria—population of 25-29 year olds, high percentage of jobs in the education sector, local restaurants and bars, affordable housing, and diversity.

While WKU’s campus seems to be in a constant state of construction in one place or another, Livability sites Bowling Green’s downtown redevelopment efforts as the key to the city’s buzz. 

In the past few years, WKU has built a new health sciences complex, alumni center, honors college and international center, renovated the science facilities, and built and renovated dormitories.

Livability took into consideration the renovation of a parking structure downtown into two casually upscale restaurants (but not without major contractual hindrances and a temporary closing), the opening of the Bowling Green Hot Rods stadium in 2009, and SkyPAC as major draws to the city.

“Independent restaurants, bars and shops draw students and full-time residents into downtown. Favorite hangouts for the college crowd include Hilligans Bar & Grill, 440 Main and Tea Bayou, a New Orleans cafe and tea bar,” the publication said.

Another aspect Livability noted is the outdoor recreation in the city and surrounding counties, including Beech Bend Park and Splash Lagoon, Mammoth Cave, Lost River Cave and Barren River Lake.  

Bowling Green came in at number 10 on the list.  Bellow is the list in full:

10.  Bowling Green — Western Kentucky University

9.     Lincoln, Nebraska — University of Nebraska

8.     Columbia, South Carolina — University of South Carolina

7.     Gainesville, Florida — University of Florida

6.     Cambridge, Massachusetts — Harvard/MIT

5.     Denton, Texas — University of North Texas/Texas Women’s University

4.     Berkeley, California — University of California- Berkeley

3.     Columbia, Missouri — University of Missouri

2.     Durham, North Carolina — Duke University

1.     Manhattan, Kansas — Kansas State University

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