Irvine, CA, United States

The University of California, Irvine may be a prestigious institution, but living in the surrounding city of Irvine comes with trade-offs. With 30,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate students, the campus dominates the local economy, generating an estimated $8 billion in annual economic impact. However, the region's heavy bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the university's history of clashing with local authorities over issues like the "Irvine 11" student protest. And while the campus itself is a verdant oasis with 30,000 trees, the broader Irvine area has a generic suburban feel lacking in character. Overall, Irvine seems best suited for those focused on academic or medical pursuits who don't mind the conformity of a highly planned community.