Two TX Cities Named Top College Sports Towns

By FRANK HEINZ

Updated 1:00 PM CST, Thu, Mar 11, 2010

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Two Texas cities have made the Forbes list for Top College Sports Towns.

Forbes first consulted the Director's Cup, which measures the totality of a university's sports programs. Of course, football and basketball weight heavy, but the list shows that more traditionally smaller programs, such as tennis or track-and-field (we're looking at you Texas A&M), can have an impact as well. For instance, Stanford won the Director's Cup last year due to excellence in rowing, tennis and track-and-field -- their football team's unusual level of success only helped the ranking.

Next Forbes took into account the cost of living in those cities, specifically the cost of housing versus the median household income, the crime rate and the number of French Impressionist paintings in the city ... and viola ... you have your Top 10.

So, how did Texas fare and who ranked where?

Austin came in at No. 6 on the list. The University of Texas at Austin boasts national champion football and baseball programs as well as an emerging basketball program -- their Director's Cup ranking is also No. 6.

"The music and filmmaking scene, coupled with the tech entrepreneurs and surprisingly affordable real estate have made Austin one of the hippest spots in the U.S. And the Longhorns are pretty darn good at sports, too," Forbes reported.

Coming in at No. 5 was Bryan/College Station. The tradition and history of Texas A&M make the quiet town of College Station a destination for many. The Aggies were ranked No. 13 in the 2008-09 Learfield Director's Cup -- boosted by three national championships (men's golf and men's and women's track-and-field).

"College Station barely beats out its more well-known Texas brethren, Austin. It has a lot to offer, from quality public schools to the library of George H. W. Bush," Forbes reported.

While not in Texas, the Big 12's Norman, Okla., fared better than any Texas school and ranked No. 3 on the Forbes list.

"The median price for a four-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,200-square-foot home is an affordable $204,475. Random fact: Norman is also home to an incredible collection of French Impressionist paintings," reported Forbes.

Random indeed.

To see the entire Top 10 list from Forbes -- go here.