<p>I don’t think the surrounding towns are all that similar. Hanover is small and rural; quaint and New England-y. It’s picturesque and has small shops, restaurants, etc. Lovely.</p>
<p>South Bend–well, no one goes to ND for the weather or for South Bend. It’s an economically depressed, small rust belt city (much, much larger than Hanover). Has some very nice areas, but overall not attractive.</p>
<p>That’s SB in general. The campus of ND is insular, gated and beautiful. Once one crosses the main gate, never much of a feeling of being in SB. Dartmouth is more isolated and further from a big city. Mishawaka (adjacent to SB) has some nice shopping/eating areas.</p>
<p>As for the student bodies, I believe both have an athletically minded (in general), fitness conscious, conservative (ND more than D) student population. ND does not have a Greek system, although my S strongly feels his dorm functions as such.</p>
<p>Congrats on such great choices! You can’t go wrong. If possible, visit (or revisit) and go with your gut if f/a isn’t a factor.</p>