College basketball fans across the U.S. are gearing up for the most exciting time of year for the sport – March Madness. College basketball is a big deal in the U.S., and depending on where you live, it may have even more draw than the professional level does. For example, the University of Kentucky basketball program is estimated to be worth $334.2 million and has a revenue of $22 million. The sport is about much more than the money, though. It’s about the players and the entertainment value. Which cities provide the most exciting teams to root for?
That’s a tough question to answer, as each city has its own unique basketball history and charm. Graduates also tend to favor their alma mater, while others may have an understandable loyalty to their hometown.
To find 2023’s top spots for NCAA hoops, WalletHub crunched the numbers on more than 290 U.S. cities using nine key metrics. They range from the number of teams per city and the winning percentage of each to stadium capacity and social-media engagement. Make sure to also check out WalletHub's March Madness Stats & Facts infographic for fun and interesting stats about the matchup.
Main Findings
Best College Basketball Cities
| Overall Rank (1=Best) | City | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Durham, NC | 55.37 |
| 2 | Lawrence, KS | 55.23 |
| 3 | Storrs, CT | 54.93 |
| 4 | Lexington, KY | 54.26 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | 53.19 |
| 6 | East Lansing, MI | 51.54 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | 50.12 |
| 8 | Chapel Hill, NC | 49.81 |
| 9 | Fayette, MS | 45.77 |
| 10 | Loretto, PA | 43.86 |
| 11 | Morgantown, WV | 42.89 |
| 12 | West Point, NY | 42.2 |
| 13 | Kingston, RI | 42.15 |
| 14 | Bloomington, IN | 40.9 |
| 15 | Boston, MA | 40.87 |
| 16 | College Park, MD | 40.41 |
| 17 | Washington, DC | 40.18 |
| 18 | Lewiston, NY | 40.11 |
| 19 | Fayetteville, AR | 39.39 |
| 20 | New York, NY | 39.34 |
| 21 | Ann Arbor, MI | 37.37 |
| 22 | Charlottesville, VA | 37.34 |
| 23 | Hamilton, NY | 36.81 |
| 24 | Norman, OK | 36.05 |
| 25 | Iowa City, IA | 35.98 |
| 26 | Murray, KY | 35.64 |
| 27 | Stillwater, OK | 35 |
| 28 | Grambling, LA | 34.35 |
| 29 | Champaign, IL | 33.69 |
| 30 | Louisville, KY | 33.49 |
College Basketball Teams
Best-Performing
- Best-Performing
- 1. Spokane, WA
- 2. Waco, TX
- 3. Lawrence, KS
- 4. Nacogdoches, TX
- 5. Rock Hill, SC
Worst-Performing
- Worst-Performing
- 288. New Britain, CT
- 289. Moscow, ID
- 290. Pine Bluff, AR
- 291. Dover, DE
- 292. Itta Bena, MS
Minimum Season Ticket Price for a College Basketball Game
Lowest
- Lowest
- 1. High Point, NC
- 2. Athens, OH
- 3. Montgomery, AL
- T-4. Terre Haute, IN
- T-4. Ithaca, NY
Highest
- Highest
- T-279. Wichita, KS
- T-279. Bloomington, IN
- T-279. Auburn, AL
- T-279. Chapel Hill, NC
- T-279. Lexington, KY
Accessible College Basketball Stadiums
Most
- Most
- T-1. Fayette, MS
- T-1. Itta Bena, MS
- T-1. Loretto, PA
- T-1. Princess Anne, MD
- 5. Grambling, LA
Least
- Least
- 291. San Francisco, CA
- 292. San Antonio, TX
- 293. Kansas City, MO
- 294. New York, NY
- 295. Sacramento, CA
Engaged College Basketball Fans
Most
- Most
- T-1. Chapel Hill, NC
- T-1. Bloomington, IN
- T-1. Morgantown, WV
- T-1. Lawrence, KS
- T-1. East Lansing, MI
Least
- Least
- 291. Colorado Springs, CO
- 292. San Francisco, CA
- 293. San Jose, CA
- 294. Denver, CO
- 295. Arlington, TX
Show More
Ranking by City Size
| Rank (1=Best) |
Large City (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Midsize City (Score) |
Rank (1=Best) |
Small City (Score) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington, KY (54.26) | 1 | Durham, NC (55.37) | 1 | Lawrence, KS (55.23) |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA (53.19) | 2 | Ann Arbor, MI (37.37) | 2 | Storrs, CT (54.93) |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA (50.12) | 3 | Norman, OK (36.05) | 3 | East Lansing, MI (51.54) |
| 4 | Boston, MA (40.87) | 4 | South Bend, IN (33.38) | 4 | Chapel Hill, NC (49.81) |
| 5 | Washington, DC (40.18) | 5 | Provo, UT (31.39) | 5 | Fayette, MS (45.77) |
| 6 | New York, NY (39.34) | 6 | Dayton, OH (29.90) | 6 | Loretto, PA (43.86) |
| 7 | Louisville, KY (33.49) | 7 | Syracuse, NY (29.47) | 7 | Morgantown, WV (42.89) |
| 8 | Tulsa, OK (33.40) | 8 | Providence, RI (29.39) | 8 | West Point, NY (42.20) |
| 9 | Houston, TX (32.48) | 9 | Akron, OH (29.04) | 9 | Kingston, RI (42.15) |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH (31.29) | 10 | Spokane, WA (28.94) | 10 | Bloomington, IN (40.90) |
| 11 | Omaha, NE (29.79) | 11 | Salt Lake City, UT (28.40) | 11 | College Park, MD (40.41) |
| 12 | Long Beach, CA (27.96) | 12 | Waco, TX (28.38) | 12 | Lewiston, NY (40.11) |
| 13 | Nashville, TN (27.92) | 13 | Eugene, OR (28.08) | 13 | Fayetteville, AR (39.39) |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD (27.39) | 14 | Baton Rouge, LA (27.76) | 14 | Charlottesville, VA (37.34) |
| 15 | Chicago, IL (27.10) | 15 | Columbia, SC (27.12) | 15 | Hamilton, NY (36.81) |
| 16 | Miami, FL (26.70) | 16 | Toledo, OH (26.90) | 16 | Iowa City, IA (35.98) |
| 17 | Dallas, TX (26.36) | 17 | Tallahassee, FL (25.64) | 17 | Murray, KY (35.64) |
| 18 | San Diego, CA (25.48) | 18 | Mobile, AL (25.23) | 18 | Stillwater, OK (35.00) |
| 19 | Columbus, OH (24.91) | 19 | Norfolk, VA (24.91) | 19 | Grambling, LA (34.35) |
| 20 | San Francisco, CA (24.67) | 20 | Lubbock, TX (24.87) | 20 | Champaign, IL (33.69) |
| 21 | St. Louis, MO (24.56) | 21 | Lafayette, LA (24.81) | 21 | Itta Bena, MS (32.97) |
| 22 | Memphis, TN (24.49) | 22 | New Haven, CT (24.81) | 22 | Buies Creek, NC (32.95) |
| 23 | New Orleans, LA (24.24) | 23 | College Station, TX (24.74) | 23 | Starkville, MS (32.11) |
| 24 | Pittsburgh, PA (23.75) | 24 | Denton, TX (24.64) | 24 | Jacksonville, AL (32.11) |
| 25 | Phoenix, AZ (23.17) | 25 | Boise, ID (23.78) | 25 | West Lafayette, IN (31.64) |
| 26 | Charlotte, NC (22.99) | 26 | Boulder, CO (23.63) | 26 | Emmitsburg, MD (31.25) |
| 27 | Seattle, WA (22.82) | 27 | Greensboro, NC (23.56) | 27 | Princeton, NJ (30.67) |
| 28 | Bakersfield, CA (22.70) | 28 | Abilene, TX (23.52) | 28 | Boiling Springs, NC (30.43) |
| 29 | Tucson, AZ (22.39) | 29 | Chattanooga, TN (23.35) | 29 | Prairie View, TX (30.30) |
| 30 | Orlando, FL (22.15) | 30 | Tempe, AZ (23.32) | 30 | Troy, AL (30.07) |
| 31 | San Antonio, TX (22.07) | 31 | Fort Collins, CO (23.17) | 31 | Nacogdoches, TX (30.02) |
| 32 | Jacksonville, FL (22.00) | 32 | Jackson, MS (22.99) | 32 | Clemson, SC (29.71) |
| 33 | Riverside, CA (21.77) | 33 | Des Moines, IA (22.88) | 33 | Athens, OH (29.66) |
| 34 | Milwaukee, WI (21.38) | 34 | Birmingham, AL (22.86) | 34 | Ames, IA (29.56) |
| 35 | El Paso, TX (21.26) | 35 | Lowell, MA (22.47) | 35 | Thibodaux, LA (29.46) |
| 36 | Atlanta, GA (21.09) | 36 | Peoria, IL (22.34) | 36 | Morehead, KY (29.44) |
| 37 | Raleigh, NC (20.92) | 37 | Knoxville, TN (22.16) | 37 | Spartanburg, SC (29.27) |
| 38 | Detroit, MI (20.89) | 38 | Buffalo, NY (22.01) | 38 | Olean, NY (29.23) |
| 39 | Cleveland, OH (20.89) | 39 | Fullerton, CA (21.91) | 39 | Farmville, VA (29.22) |
| 40 | Newark, NJ (20.74) | 40 | Springfield, MO (21.91) | 40 | Conway, SC (28.66) |
| 41 | Fresno, CA (20.26) | 41 | Charleston, SC (21.66) | 41 | Pullman, WA (28.59) |
| 42 | Las Vegas, NV (19.67) | 42 | Gainesville, FL (21.64) | 42 | Kent, OH (28.30) |
| 43 | Portland, OR (19.40) | 43 | Fargo, ND (21.59) | 43 | Highland Heights, KY (28.13) |
| 44 | Kansas City, MO (19.22) | 44 | Madison, WI (21.52) | 44 | Huntsville, TX (28.11) |
| 45 | Arlington, TX (19.10) | 45 | Irvine, CA (21.40) | 45 | Cheney, WA (28.03) |
| 46 | Colorado Springs, CO (18.90) | 46 | Santa Clara, CA (21.23) | 45 | Cullowhee, NC (28.03) |
| 47 | Corpus Christi, TX (18.64) | 47 | North Charleston, SC (21.06) | 47 | Carbondale, IL (27.96) |
| 48 | Albuquerque, NM (18.34) | 48 | Greeley, CO (21.02) | 48 | Ruston, LA (27.88) |
| 49 | St. Paul, MN (18.22) | 49 | High Point, NC (20.96) | 49 | Stanford, CA (27.13) |
| 50 | Tampa, FL (18.16) | 50 | Little Rock, AR (20.81) | 50 | Laramie, WY (26.56) |
| 51 | Sacramento, CA (17.06) | 51 | Macon, GA (20.54) | 51 | Lewisburg, PA (26.56) |
| 52 | Indianapolis, IN (16.93) | 52 | Hartford, CT (20.52) | 52 | Durham, NH (26.50) |
| 53 | Minneapolis, MN (16.86) | 53 | Fort Wayne, IN (20.47) | 53 | Bowling Green, KY (26.37) |
| 54 | Fort Worth, TX (16.72) | 54 | Reno, NV (20.44) | 54 | Annapolis, MD (26.36) |
| 55 | Denver, CO (16.23) | 55 | Las Cruces, NM (20.40) | 55 | Lynchburg, VA (26.31) |
| 56 | Honolulu, HI (15.96) | 56 | Hampton, VA (19.75) | 56 | Brookings, SD (26.15) |
| 57 | San Jose, CA (15.90) | 57 | Clarksville, TN (19.66) | 57 | Rock Hill, SC (26.04) |
| 58 | Stockton, CA (15.39) | 58 | Cambridge, MA (19.61) | 58 | Richmond, KY (25.97) |
| 59 | Wichita, KS (14.80) | 59 | Montgomery, AL (19.31) | 59 | Hanover, NH (25.91) |
| 60 | Austin, TX (14.12) | 60 | Murfreesboro, TN (19.30) | 60 | Tuscaloosa, AL (25.85) |
| Info | Info | 61 | Winston-Salem, NC (18.54) | 61 | Manhattan, KS (25.85) |
| Info | Info | 62 | Beaumont, TX (18.18) | 62 | Hempstead, NY (25.69) |
| Info | Info | 63 | Richmond, VA (18.16) | 63 | Cedar Falls, IA (25.45) |
| Info | Info | 64 | Lincoln, NE (17.57) | 64 | Albany, NY (25.44) |
| Info | Info | 65 | Worcester, MA (17.32) | 65 | Lexington, VA (25.42) |
| Info | Info | 66 | Jersey City, NJ (16.80) | 66 | Easton, PA (25.42) |
| Info | Info | 67 | Evansville, IN (16.55) | 67 | San Marcos, TX (25.19) |
| Info | Info | 68 | Huntsville, AL (16.41) | 68 | Davidson, NC (25.12) |
| Info | Info | 69 | Wilmington, NC (16.22) | 69 | Radford, VA (25.09) |
| Info | Info | 70 | Green Bay, WI (16.15) | 70 | Burlington, VT (24.81) |
| Info | Info | 71 | Columbia, MO (15.67) | 71 | Ithaca, NY (24.78) |
| Info | Info | 72 | Athens, GA (14.90) | 72 | New Rochelle, NY (24.60) |
| Info | Info | 73 | Berkeley, CA (12.04) | 73 | Amherst, MA (24.52) |
| Info | Info | Info | 74 | Boone, NC (24.38) | |
| Info | Info | Info | 75 | Ogden, UT (24.10) | |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 76 | Cedar City, UT (24.10) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 77 | Terre Haute, IN (24.07) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 78 | Oxford, MS (23.96) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 79 | Princess Anne, MD (23.92) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 80 | Greenville, SC (23.82) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 81 | Fairfield, CT (23.65) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 82 | North Andover, MA (23.65) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 83 | Davis, CA (23.61) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 84 | Corvallis, OR (23.59) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 85 | Long Branch, NJ (23.48) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 86 | Santa Barbara, CA (23.40) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 87 | Orangeburg, SC (23.26) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 88 | Mount Pleasant, MI (23.02) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 89 | Williamsburg, VA (22.98) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 90 | Ypsilanti, MI (22.72) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 91 | Moraga, CA (22.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 92 | Logan, UT (22.67) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 93 | Bowling Green, OH (22.55) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 94 | Trenton, NJ (22.39) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 95 | Newark, DE (22.36) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 96 | Stony Brook, NY (22.35) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 97 | Towson, MD (22.25) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 98 | Florence, AL (22.19) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 99 | DeLand, FL (22.13) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 100 | Muncie, IN (22.09) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 101 | Hammond, LA (21.85) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 102 | Stephenville, TX (21.76) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 103 | Clinton, SC (21.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 104 | Natchitoches, LA (21.54) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 105 | Orem, UT (21.50) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 106 | Normal, IL (21.01) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 106 | Monroe, LA (21.01) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 108 | Bozeman, MT (20.99) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 109 | Youngstown, OH (20.98) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 109 | Statesboro, GA (20.98) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 111 | Huntington, WV (20.93) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 112 | Johnson City, TN (20.79) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 113 | Harrisonburg, VA (20.78) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 114 | Auburn, AL (20.78) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 115 | Flagstaff, AZ (20.68) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 116 | Rochester Hills, MI (20.66) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 117 | Elon, NC (20.58) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 118 | Jonesboro, AR (20.50) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 119 | St. Charles, MO (20.35) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 120 | Cape Girardeau, MO (20.30) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 121 | Vermillion, SD (20.21) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 122 | Charleston, IL (20.20) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 123 | Blacksburg, VA (20.09) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 124 | DeKalb, IL (20.09) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 125 | Edwardsville, IL (19.88) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 126 | Asheville, NC (19.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 127 | Boca Raton, FL (19.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 128 | Cookeville, TN (19.66) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 129 | State College, PA (19.59) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 130 | Macomb, IL (19.50) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 131 | Lake Charles, LA (19.41) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 132 | New Brunswick, NJ (19.36) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 133 | Fort Myers, FL (19.19) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 134 | Orono, ME (19.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 135 | Poughkeepsie, NY (19.00) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 136 | Valparaiso, IN (18.91) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 137 | Martin, TN (18.82) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 138 | Kennesaw, GA (18.81) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 139 | Pine Bluff, AR (18.64) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 140 | Greenville, NC (18.61) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 141 | San Luis Obispo, CA (18.60) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 142 | St. George, UT (18.40) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 143 | Oxford, OH (18.37) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 144 | Binghamton, NY (18.24) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 145 | Hattiesburg, MS (18.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 146 | Malibu, CA (18.04) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 147 | Conway, AR (18.01) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 148 | Missoula, MT (17.80) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 149 | Grand Forks, ND (17.69) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 150 | Moscow, ID (17.43) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 151 | Evanston, IL (17.21) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 152 | Hackensack, NJ (16.38) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 153 | Kalamazoo, MI (16.12) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 154 | Fairfax, VA (15.91) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 155 | Edinburg, TX (15.02) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 156 | Commerce, TX (13.51) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 157 | Bethlehem, PA (13.38) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 158 | Dover, DE (12.64) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 159 | Pocatello, ID (11.55) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 160 | Daytona Beach, FL (10.81) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 161 | Easton, MA (9.16) |
| Info | Info | Info | Info | 162 | New Britain, CT (7.53) |
Ask the Experts
For more input on what makes for a great college basketball city and how residents can ramp up their fandom without spending too much, we asked the following questions to a panel of leading industry experts. You can check out their bios and responses below.
- What, in your mind, makes a good college basketball fan?
- What do you think is the best city for college basketball fans and why?
- Do you have any tips for how basketball fans can enjoy the sport without breaking the bank?
- What are the challenges, if any, of college basketball in America?
Ask the Experts
Tim Chartier
Joseph R. Morton Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science – Davidson College and the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City
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Joseph R. Morton Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science – Davidson College and the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City
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David Hollander
J.D. – Assistant Dean, Real World; Clinical Professor, Tisch Institute for Global Sport; Faculty Fellow in Residence, Founders Hall – New York University
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J.D. – Assistant Dean, Real World; Clinical Professor, Tisch Institute for Global Sport; Faculty Fellow in Residence, Founders Hall – New York University
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Jason A. Rice
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Sport Management Program Director – North Central College
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Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Sport Management Program Director – North Central College
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Marcis Fennell
Ph.D. – Servant Leader/Educator/Coach, Visiting Associate Professor – Florida A&M University and Adjunct Faculty – Washington State University
Read More
Ph.D. – Servant Leader/Educator/Coach, Visiting Associate Professor – Florida A&M University and Adjunct Faculty – Washington State University
Read More
Methodology
In order to identify the best and worst cities for college basketball fans, WalletHub compared the 295 U.S. cities with at least one college (Division 1) team using nine relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for college basketball fans.
We determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. Cities were also ranked based on population size, using the following groupings:
- Large Cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize Cities: 100,000 to 300,000 people
- Small Cities: Fewer than 100,000 people
NCAA Basketball
- Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Teams: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
- Performance Level of College Basketball (Division 1) Team(s): Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Number of Wins” by “Total Games Played” and using the past three seasons’ averages. - Number of Basketball (Division 1) Championship Wins: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
- Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Conference Regular Season Championship Wins: Half Weight (~6.25 Points)
- Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
- Minimum Season Ticket Price for a College Basketball (Division 1) Game: Full Weight (~12.50 Points)
- College-Basketball Fans Engagement: Sesqui-Weight (~18.75 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by adding “Number of Twitter Followers” and “Number of Facebook ‘Likes’ per Capita.” - Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~6.25 Points)
Note: “Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2013–2014 to 2022–2023. - College-Basketball Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~6.25 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated by dividing “Stadium Capacity” by “City Population.”
Sources: Data used to create these rankings were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, ESPN, Sports Reference, NCAA.org, each team’s website and social media accounts.
