Agreed. Another nice example is new paltz, new york (has a small university there). It's easy to walk to from the university through the neighborhood to the main street for a slice of pizza.

I also recall where rensellaer poly is to be a nice little town next to the university.

I can't think of many towns in Texas that offer a small university town without being so spread out parents don't have to worry about cars though.

Boulder is also really nice near campus (getting sprawlish outside it), mountain hikes are a bike ride away.