Montana’s Best College Town: Is It Bozeman Or Missoula?

WalletHub's College Town Rankings: A Controversial Comparison

Our friends over at WalletHub came out with some new information, and it's not going to please a lot of Cat fans.

It seams they have come out with their "Best and Worst College Towns" list and while both Bozeman and Missoula made the list, the rankings, well, let's just say they might be considered a bit "questionable".

Bozeman vs. Missoula: The Battle of College Towns

First, having lived in both cities, I can tell you which one I think is the better college town. It's Bozeman, and it's not even close, but that is me, and I'm sure a lot of Griz fans will argue with me.

READ MORE: The Montana town that everyone loves to hate...other than Bozeman. 

So, what about the rankings?

Shocking Rankings: A Closer Look at WalletHub's List

Well, according to the data, Missoula is ranked as the 59th best college town in America, while Bozeman comes in at 248th.

Grizzlies vs. Bobcats: The Sports Debate Continues

I'm sure Griz fans will take this as an opportunity to gloat, even though, we've been the better team on the field and court. Oh, and then there is the graduation rate, along with the overall grades.

But I digress...

Understanding WalletHub's Ranking Methodology

So, how in the world did WalletHub come up with this? And looking at the list, there are a lot of fantastic college towns ranked below Missoula, so what's up with that?

A little research, goes a long way, my friends.

Cost of Living: Bozeman's Pricey Reputation

It seems that a large portion of the rankings comes down to cost. Such as cost of living, housing cost, cost of restaurants, etc. Ok, well, yea, Bozeman costs more than Missoula, In fact, Bozeman costs more than most places, so it seems that the cost factor isn't in our favor.

Academic Opportunities: The Key Differentiator

However, according to the numbers, the biggest factor comes down to Academic and Economic opportunities.

Missoula was ranked 89th and Bozeman was ranked 314th.

Oh, I'm reminded of a joke. What does a Griz with a Masters Degree say to a Bobcat with a Master's Degree?  "Would you like fries with that?" I kid, I kid.

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Apparently, at least according to this bit of information, you have more chances in life if you're a Griz, then a Cat, well, other than sports...