Well that often tends to be the case. Most college towns, even little ones, are so much more expensive than the countryside. Here in Ithaca NY, the property ma

Well that often tends to be the case. Most college towns, even little ones, are so much more expensive than the countryside. Here in Ithaca NY, the property market (relative to income) is ungodly expensive, because most people either bought their houses decades ago when they were affordable, or they're college students who will pay any price in rent to get their quality education. Some people commute in from as far away as Syracuse or even Pennsylvania. Property prices are much more affordable 15 minutes drive in any direction, but no college professor or staff would want their kids going to any of the crackerjack rural schools. Can't say I speak for the Midwest, so it could be different there.