Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live (2024)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterNov 7, 2024

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Nov 7, 2024

There are over 17.9 million veterans currently living in the U.S., and these veterans often face a host of challenges when re-entering civilian life. Despite Uncle Sam’s promises of benefits upon their return from service, some retired service members cannot secure health care, jobs or shelter.

Fortunately, the unemployment rate for veterans is very low, at 2.8%, compared to 3.9% for the overall population. However, veteran homelessness is still a big problem, as there are over 35,000 homeless veterans.

To help military veterans find the best places in which to settle down, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness. They range from the share of military skill-related jobs to veteran income growth to the availability of VA health facilities.

“When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health. The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

Embed on your website

Best Cities for Veterans to Live

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Employment Rank	Economy Rank	Quality of Life Rank	Health Rank
1	Austin, TX	71.29	10	13	4	32
2	Orlando, FL	70.53	20	10	1	29
3	Raleigh, NC	67.60	5	5	17	49
4	Tampa, FL	67.41	80	18	6	14
5	Virginia Beach, VA	66.05	41	3	8	67
6	Irvine, CA	65.78	3	57	31	1
7	Scottsdale, AZ	65.78	74	7	3	58
8	Madison, WI	65.59	14	2	16	63
9	St. Petersburg, FL	65.49	19	54	12	16
10	Jacksonville, FL	64.65	34	20	26	16
11	Miami, FL	64.62	8	34	37	15
12	Laredo, TX	63.80	6	1	69	32
13	Colorado Springs, CO	63.78	71	14	15	21
14	Pittsburgh, PA	63.74	18	40	20	26
15	Gilbert, AZ	63.49	35	4	24	58
16	Chandler, AZ	62.89	24	26	19	58
17	San Diego, CA	62.76	58	63	7	41
18	Chesapeake, VA	62.59	38	6	18	67
19	Henderson, NV	61.88	32	30	10	80
20	Fort Worth, TX	61.87	45	11	34	32
21	Boise, ID	61.36	17	52	5	86
22	Plano, TX	60.80	77	53	11	32
23	Durham, NC	60.36	2	74	29	45
24	Minneapolis, MN	59.64	57	37	25	43
25	Dallas, TX	59.52	46	42	43	20
26	Charlotte, NC	59.37	31	29	39	49
27	Denver, CO	59.20	48	69	9	56
28	San Antonio, TX	58.11	72	19	30	48
29	Mesa, AZ	57.96	16	23	54	58
30	Las Vegas, NV	57.90	51	64	2	92
31	Chula Vista, CA	57.67	64	41	62	1
32	Oklahoma City, OK	57.54	29	8	38	75
33	Garland, TX	56.82	43	21	66	32
34	Irving, TX	56.51	33	28	71	32
35	Lexington-Fayette, KY	56.44	73	36	28	54
36	Fremont, CA	56.41	1	93	63	1
37	Hialeah, FL	56.29	25	67	72	16
38	Arlington, TX	56.05	47	33	61	32
39	Lubbock, TX	55.85	12	39	78	32
40	San Jose, CA	55.79	9	94	49	1
41	Columbus, OH	55.67	59	15	40	73
42	San Francisco, CA	55.49	30	100	14	28
43	Anaheim, CA	55.37	11	85	79	1
44	Glendale, AZ	55.36	15	25	76	58
45	Anchorage, AK	55.34	56	24	42	70
46	St. Louis, MO	55.25	40	79	45	31
47	Lincoln, NE	55.25	37	12	55	91
48	Omaha, NE	54.95	50	9	50	78
49	Cincinnati, OH	54.55	83	72	32	42
50	Corpus Christi, TX	54.51	26	59	74	32
51	Atlanta, GA	54.08	54	61	13	97
52	Kansas City, MO	53.50	4	58	60	74
53	Greensboro, NC	53.35	7	32	91	49
54	Tulsa, OK	53.14	81	27	65	46
55	St. Paul, MN	53.07	60	49	35	93
56	Albuquerque, NM	52.95	13	38	58	79
57	Louisville, KY	52.00	36	51	52	76
58	Long Beach, CA	51.89	68	99	46	12
59	Houston, TX	51.80	87	31	59	55
60	Winston-Salem, NC	51.61	21	45	88	49
61	Philadelphia, PA	51.48	49	65	56	64
62	Tucson, AZ	51.22	53	43	51	83
63	Aurora, CO	51.13	89	47	68	21
64	Boston, MA	51.00	22	96	64	23
65	El Paso, TX	50.97	94	17	47	65
66	Washington, DC	50.78	63	68	22	100
67	Cleveland, OH	50.78	84	62	80	25
68	Sacramento, CA	50.55	90	90	41	19
69	North Las Vegas, NV	50.47	69	46	57	80
70	Santa Ana, CA	50.39	70	86	84	1
71	Buffalo, NY	50.14	100	22	83	13
72	Reno, NV	50.11	55	81	27	96
73	Milwaukee, WI	49.78	75	35	85	47
74	Norfolk, VA	49.66	76	66	53	67
75	Phoenix, AZ	49.64	44	55	44	98
76	Seattle, WA	49.49	62	87	36	84
77	Portland, OR	49.23	66	91	23	77
78	New York, NY	49.17	27	92	67	53
79	Los Angeles, CA	48.85	86	98	33	24
80	Wichita, KS	48.72	52	16	89	71
81	Nashville, TN	48.72	28	77	70	87
82	Bakersfield, CA	48.59	91	60	93	1
83	San Bernardino, CA	48.58	39	73	98	1
84	Riverside, CA	48.20	95	48	87	1
85	Honolulu, HI	47.87	78	95	21	72
86	Oakland, CA	47.64	23	97	86	1
87	Stockton, CA	47.04	85	78	97	1
88	Baltimore, MD	47.00	65	80	96	30
89	Fort Wayne, IN	46.59	61	56	75	90
90	Birmingham, AL	46.49	82	76	73	66
91	Jersey City, NJ	46.39	42	75	82	94
92	Fresno, CA	45.65	79	82	95	27
93	Chicago, IL	45.33	92	71	48	88
94	New Orleans, LA	45.25	93	84	77	44
95	Toledo, OH	43.81	88	44	90	85
96	Indianapolis, IN	41.72	67	70	94	89
97	Baton Rouge, LA	38.23	99	83	81	57
98	Memphis, TN	35.73	98	50	92	99
99	Detroit, MI	31.16	96	88	99	82
100	Newark, NJ	28.92	97	89	100	94

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

% of Military Skill-Related Jobs

Highest

Highest
1. Fremont, CA
2. Durham, NC
3. Madison, WI
4. Boston, MA
5. San Jose, CA

Lowest

Lowest
96. Henderson, NV
97. Hialeah, FL
98. Las Vegas, NV
99. Miami, FL
100. North Las Vegas, NV

Veteran Unemployment Rate

Lowest

Lowest
T-1. Lincoln, NE
T-1. Chesapeake, VA
T-1. Greensboro, NC
T-1. Irving, TX
T-1. Omaha, NE

Highest

Highest
96. New Orleans, LA
97. Buffalo, NY
T-98. Baton Rouge, LA
T-98. Newark, NJ
T-98. Detroit, MI

Veteran Income Growth

Highest

Highest
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Hialeah, FL
3. Miami, FL
4. Orlando, FL
5. Laredo, TX

Lowest

Lowest
96. Irvine, CA
97. Durham, NC
98. Bakersfield, CA
99. Birmingham, AL
100. Baton Rouge, LA

% of Veterans in Poverty

Lowest

Lowest
1. Chesapeake, VA
2. Gilbert, AZ
3. Virginia Beach, VA
4. Chula Vista, CA
5. Chandler, AZ

Highest

Highest
96. St. Louis, MO
97. Hialeah, FL
98. Newark, NJ
99. Cleveland, OH
100. Detroit, MI

Homeless Veterans per Veteran Population

Fewest

Fewest
1. Toledo, OH
2. Virginia Beach, VA
3. Raleigh, NC
4. Jacksonville, FL
5. Buffalo, NY

Most

Most
88. Atlanta, GA
89. Boston, MA
T-90. Los Angeles, CA
T-90. Long Beach, CA
T-90. San Francisco, CA

Veteran Population

Highest

Highest
T-1. Virginia Beach, VA
T-1. Chesapeake, VA
T-1. Colorado Springs, CO
T-1. Norfolk, VA
T-1. Anchorage, AK

Lowest

Lowest
96. Miami, FL
97. New York, NY
98. Jersey City, NJ
99. Santa Ana, CA
100. Hialeah, FL

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for Veterans

Austin, TX

Austin, TX, is the best city for veterans, in large part because it has the best colleges for veterans in the country, along with the 9th-highest median annual income for veterans, at over $59,000. In addition, Austin has the fourth-best job growth rate in the country.

It’s also good for veterans to live in a place where they can form a community of support with others who have gone through similar experiences. Austin has the second-largest projected increase in veterans between 2023 and 2050, so that will certainly help veterans meet each other and forge friendships.

In addition, Austin is great for going out to eat or enjoying entertainment as a veteran. The city has the 11th-highest number of restaurants and arts/entertainment establishments per capita that offer military discounts.

Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL, is the second-best city for veterans, and quickly rising income expectations for veterans are among the top reasons for this. The median annual income for veterans grows by an average of over 9% per year, the fourth-highest percentage in the country. The current median income is also decent, at around $51,000, which ranks 38th out of 100 of the most populous cities. Considering that the highest median income for any city is around $59,000, the high growth rate in Orlando could help it quickly catch up.

In addition, Orlando has the 5th-highest number of arts and entertainment establishments that offer military discounts per capita, as well as the second-highest number of restaurants offering discounts. This shows that the population appreciates people who have served our country.

When it comes to veterans’ services, Orlando has the 6th-most VA benefits facilities per capita and the 4th-most VA health facilities per capita. In addition to quantity, the city has quality: Its VA medical facilities are rated as the 3rd-best in the country and also have the 16th-most available beds per capita.

Raleigh, NC

Raleigh, NC, is the third-best city for veterans, in large part because it has the third-lowest veteran homelessness rate in the country. No one should be homeless, especially people who have served our nation, and Raleigh has cut the homelessness rate to only 1 homeless individual for every 1,000 veterans.

One likely reason why veteran homelessness is low is because Raleigh offers great education and job opportunities for veterans. It has the 7th-best colleges for veterans, plus the 14th-highest median annual veteran income, at over $56,700.

On top of that, Raleigh has the 7th-highest job growth rate, along with the 14th-lowest veteran unemployment rate among 100 of the largest U.S. cities.

Ask the Experts

Transitioning from active military duty to ordinary life can be difficult for many veterans. For advice on overcoming certain issues faced by veterans undergoing this process, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are the biggest issues facing veterans today?
What factors, financial or otherwise, should a veteran consider when choosing a city in which to live?
How can the government help veterans succeed financially? How can policy and programs help veterans better manage their finances?
How should governments and nonprofits help homeless veterans?
How should the VA reform their health care system to better serve the needs of this population? How can veterans evaluate the quality of their local VA health system?

Ask the Experts

Stephen Curda
Ph.D. – Associate Professor and Special Advisor to the President on Veterans Education, Learning Sciences Education, National College of Education – National Louis University
Read More

Seth Gordon
Ph.D. – Director, Veteran's Military Center – Wright State University
Read More

Dr. Ryan Burke
Professor of Military & Strategic Studies (MSS) – U.S. Air Force Academy
Read More

Joe Welker
Associate Professor, Accounting, Faculty Promotions Committee – College of Western Idaho
Read More

Methodology

In order to determine the best places for veterans to live, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions: 1) Employment, 2) Economy, 3) Quality of Life and 4) Health.

We evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for veterans. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities. Data for metrics marked with two asterisks (**) were available at state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case, excluding surrounding cities in the metro area.

Employment – Total Points: 25

Share of Military Skill-Related Jobs: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Veteran Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)
Job Growth: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the average annual rate of job growth between the years 2020 and 2024.
Veteran-Owned Businesses per Veteran Population: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)

Economy – Total Points: 25

Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: This composite metric comprises the following calculations: Median Home Price / Median Annual Veteran’s Income and Median Annual Rent Price / Median Annual Veteran’s Income.
Veteran Income Growth: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)
Note: This metric measures the average annual rate of veteran income growth between the years 2017 and 2022.
Share of Veterans Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
Educational Opportunities: Half Weight (~1.47 Points)
Note: This metric is based on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges for Veterans” ranking.
Median Veteran Income: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the local cost of living.
Homeless Veterans per 1,000 Veterans: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)

Quality of Life – Total Points: 25

Veteran Population: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: “Veteran Population” refers to the number of veterans per 1,000 residents.
Projected Veteran Population Growth: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
Note: This metric measures the projected increase in the veteran population between the years 2023 and 2050.
Family-Friendliness: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family” ranking.
Retiree-Friendliness: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Retire” ranking.
Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts per Veteran Population*: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
Arts & Entertainment Establishments That Offer Military Discounts per Veteran Population*: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)

Health – Total Points: 25

VA Benefits Administration Facilities per Veteran Population**: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: The square root of the veteran population was used to calculate its size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states.
VA Health Facilities per Veteran Population**: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: The square root of the veteran population was used to calculate its size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states.
Quality of VA Health Facilities: Triple Weight (~15.00 Points)
Note: This composite metric includes:

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of August 27, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. News & World Report, Yelp, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

Questions & Answers

Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. Please keep in mind that it is not a financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.

Was this article helpful?

Expert Commentary

WalletHub experts are widely quoted. Contact our media team to schedule an interview.

Important Disclosures

Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.

Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.

WalletHub is not a financial advisor. Our goal is to provide you with top-notch content, data, and tools. You are responsible for deciding what financial products and providers are best for your needs.

Irrespective of whether an institution or professional is a paid advertiser, the presence of information on WalletHub does not constitute a referral or endorsement of the institution or professional by us or vice versa.

We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Actual terms may vary. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.