The nationally recognized living and lifestyle website Livability.com ranked Moscow No. 8 out of the 10 best college towns to live in — citing opportunities for creativity, social interaction and recreational pursuits.
Matt Carmichael, Livability’s vice president, said the list was based on inter-city rivalries between neighboring college towns, like the eight-mile stretch between Washington State University in Pullman, and the University of Idaho in Moscow.
Carmichael said Livability’s editors took a data-driven approach to compile the list. They looked at characteristics such as the number of bars in different counties and which towns had a high population of adults between the ages of 24 to 35.
“We used it as kind of a proxy to see (if it is) a great place to live and do you want to stay after you graduate? Or do you grab your diploma and head somewhere else?” Carmichael said.
Another factor editors looked at was the ratio between college stadium sizes and the community’s population, because they were interested in how many residents could watch a football game at one time, Carmichael said. For Moscow, the Kibbie Dome was rated large enough to fit the majority of Muscovites, while still leaving plenty of seats for students.
“We also wanted to look at cities where the college was one of the main parts of the city,” Carmichael said.
UI Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said Moscow city officials have a great relationship with the faculty and staff at UI because many of them attended UI.
“I think that they have a deeper relationship with the university and appreciate some of the energy and enriching activity that comes with the university being here. They too are proud of their relationship with the university,” Pitman said.
Moscow City Supervisor Gary Riedner graduated from UI and believes that Moscow is a classic American college town — small enough that the college is a main component of the city’s underlying fabric.
“The university is what makes Moscow, Moscow,” Riedner said. “The staff and the students at the university make a large percentage of our population. They drive our economy in a lot of ways. The fresh ideas, the new things that the students bring every year add to the flavor of the town.”
Carmichael said a large portion of Moscow’s population is between the ages of 25 and 35, which is the average age range of graduate students and new alumni. Riedner said students likely choose to stay in Moscow because of how beautiful North Idaho is, and how friendly and welcoming the community is to UI students.
Riedner said that the city tries to host events and programs for students so they’re proportionally represented in the community.
“Moscow and the university grew up hand in hand,” Riedner said. “I think it’s just a matter that we grew up together.”
Pitman said it’s no wonder why Livability ranked Moscow on a national list, because the Moscow community was not only built for residents, but also for students.
“When you walk down Main street and you see the nicer restaurants, the coffee shops and book stores you know that it’s a welcoming place,” Pitman said. “Meaning that it’s very common that the mayor of Moscow and city council are there for major university events.”
Pitman said what makes Moscow unique — when compared to the other towns listed on Livability.com’s website — is how close the town and UI are in proximity and in terms of collaboration.
“Main Street and campus are really not separated,” Pitman said. “That downtown core area is directly connected to campus and campus-life.”
Danielle Wiley can be reached at [email protected]