Which has a more classic college-town atmosphere: UMass Amherst or Purdue?

UMass Amherst is more likely to deliver the classic, small New England college-town atmosphere you describe. Amherst is a compact, walkable town with local cafés, restaurants, bookstores, and a visible student presence, while the Five College area gives it an unusually strong academic-community feel beyond UMass itself.

Purdue has a real college-town setting, not a large-city or suburban-campus environment. West Lafayette is heavily shaped by Purdue, and students can easily access restaurants, apartments, nightlife, and campus traditions on foot. Its atmosphere, though, is more centered on a very large university, Big Ten sports, and a busy, practical student district. Nearby Lafayette adds more off-campus options across the Wabash River, but it feels more like a separate small city than an extension of a quaint college village.

Choose Purdue if you want an energetic, campus-dominant environment where the university is clearly the main social hub. UMass Amherst fits more naturally for someone seeking an intimate, traditional town experience with independent local character and a broader liberal-arts college community.