As a first approximation, look for Woodstock’s Pizza franchises.
Based on this approach, there should be “college town” vibes in the following locations:
- Davis
- San Luis Obispo
- Chico
- Santa Cruz
- College Heights (neighborhood in San Diego)
- Isla Vista
- Corvallis (technically in Oregon)
Other communities that are often regarded as “college towns” in CA (despite the lack of Woodstock’s) include Arcata, Berkeley, Palo Alto, and Claremont.
Note that having lots of residential students on or near campus does not necessarily guarantee a fun “college town” atmosphere. There are relatively few commuters at UC Merced, for example, because of its distance from major population centers; however, the campus is isolated from the town, and the town does not (yet?) have a reputation for student-oriented neighborhoods or services. Sonoma State and CSU Monterey Bay might be other examples of campuses that are largely residential, yet lack a “college town” vibe off-campus.