My immediate thought was Boston. Malibu would be cool, but I thought it has a lot of traffic, being in Southern California. But then people mentioned Boston’s traffic. Still, if you live in town or near town and take the T, then you won’t need to deal with it, mostly. But then, this is true on almost any campus. You’re going to mostly be on campus, and traffic won’t matter.
Ann Arbor goes crazy on days the football team has a home game. It’s got good restaurants and culture. It’s a college town. Pretty liberal. But the winters are cold and the summers are hot.
Houston is, well, an oil town. People are conservative down there. They may not be friendly to foreigners who look brown. It is beastly hot and humid in the summer. Everyone lives indoors in the summer, so they can have air conditioning.
Miami is a party town. Good football teams. Lots of school spirit. I’m sure you could get a good education if you stay focused, and don’t just party all the time.
Idaho is small and it is a backwater. You won’t nearly as much opportunity for plays, concerts, or roller derby there as you do in the other cities. But it is beautiful. Mountains and wild rivers. Salmon fishing. If you want an outdoor experience, and don’t mind smallness, go to Idaho.