SpareFoot Analysis Reveals America's 20 Fastest-Gr

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 20, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Raleigh, North Carolina, home to North Carolina State University, is America's Fastest-Growing College Town, according to a new data analysis from SpareFoot , the online marketplace for self-storage.

To rank America's Fastest-Growing College Towns , SpareFoot compared the 2000 and 2010 populations of college towns. Raleigh topped the 20-town list, with population growth of 46 percent from 2000 to 2010.

SpareFoot selected only those towns with a main campus of a public four-year university and a residential population of at least 20,000. The analysis did not include cities like Atlanta because although they're home to major universities, their economies are more diversified than those of traditional college towns.

"College towns are so appealing because they combine the charm and livability of a small city with the sophistication and amenities of a much larger metropolitan area," population researcher Bert Sperling, founder of BestPlaces.net , told SpareFoot.com. "Cities with colleges and universities are healthier financially, because the local school provides a stable economic base when recessions hit. In fact, enrollment often increases when the job market tightens."

For more information about America's Fastest-Growing College Towns, visit http://blog.sparefoot.com/3998-fastest-growing-college-towns .

Here is SpareFoot's complete list of America's Fastest-Growing College Towns.

1. Raleigh, North Carolina
Major campus: North Carolina State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 46.29 percent

2. College Station, Texas
Major campus: Texas A&M University
2000-10 population growth rate: 38.25 percent

3. Las Cruces, New Mexico
Major campus: New Mexico State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 31.44 percent

4. Gainesville, Florida
Major campus: University of Florida
2000-10 population growth rate: 30.29 percent

5. San Marcos, Texas
Major campus: Texas State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 29.25 percent

6. Columbia, Missouri
Major campus: University of Missouri
2000-10 population growth rate: 28.36 percent

7. Fayetteville, Arkansas
Major campus: University of Arkansas
2000-10 population growth rate: 26.76 percent

8. Flagstaff, Arizona
Major campus: Northern Arizona University
2000-10 population growth rate: 24.53 percent

9. Auburn, Alabama
Major campus: Auburn University
2000-10 population growth rate: 24.18 percent

10. College Park, Maryland
Major campus: University of Maryland
2000-10 population growth rate: 23.34 percent

11. Fort Collins, Colorado
Major campus: Colorado State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 21.35 percent

12. Pullman, Washington
Major campus: Washington State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 20.77 percent

13. Tallahassee, Florida
Major campus: Florida State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 20.42 percent

14. Austin, Texas
Major campus: University of Texas
2000-10 growth rate: 20.38 percent

15. Champaign, Illinois
Major campus: University of Illinois
2000-10 population growth rate: 20.05 percent

16. Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Major campus: University of North Carolina
2000-10 population growth rate: 17.49 percent

17. Stillwater, Oklahoma
Major campus: Oklahoma State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 16.95 percent

18. Manhattan, Kansas
Major campus: Kansas State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 16.62 percent

19. Fargo, North Dakota
Major campus: North Dakota State University
2000-10 population growth rate: 16.5 percent

20. Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Major campus: University of Alabama
2000-10 population growth rate: 16.12 percent

About SpareFoot

SpareFoot makes renting self-storage easy. Our free marketplace lets customers find and reserve storage units online. We have the largest inventory of storage units in the U.S., with a network of more than 6,500 facilities ranging from mom-and-pop to publicly traded REIT. We reach millions of people who need storage through exclusive partnerships with brands like SelfStorage.com, Apartments.com and Penske Truck Rental. The Austin Business Journal named SpareFoot the Best Place to Work in Central Texas for 2013.

For more information, visit www.sparefoot.com .

Newton O'Neill Communications Lisa O'Neill, 512-494-6178