© 2024 Arizent. All rights reserved.
Health and wellness

20 best cities for veterans

ByEBN Staff
November 11, 2024 4:00 PM
Veteran Military
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

After serving in the United States military, many veterans who return from service and have difficulty securing health care, jobs or shelter.

WalletHub recently ranked the best cities for veterans, by comparing the 100 largest U.S. cities across 19 factors of livability, affordability and for being veteran-friendly. 

"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," Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in a release. "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."

Read more: This Marine Corps veteran and CEO has a strong message for employers 

Austin is ranked as the best city for veterans, with the best colleges for veterans, as well as having the 9th-highest median annual income for veterans, at more than $59,000. Austin also has the fourth-best job growth rate in the country.

Other top cities for veterans include Orlando, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina. Orlando has the 6th-most VA benefits facilities per capita and the 4th-most VA health facilities per capita. Raleigh has the third-lowest veteran homelessness rate in the country.

Read more about the best cities for veterans.

Best U.S. cities for veterans

Overall rank City Total score Employment rank Economy rank Quality of life rank Health rank
20 Fort Worth, TX 61.87 45 11 34 32
19 Henderson, NV 61.88 32 30 10 80
18 Chesapeake, VA 62.59 38 6 18 67
17 San Diego, CA 62.76 58 63 7 41
16 Chandler, AZ 62.89 24 26 19 58
15 Gilbert, AZ 63.49 35 4 24 58
14 Pittsburgh, PA 63.74 18 40 20 26
13 Colorado Springs, CO 63.78 71 14 15 21
12 Laredo, TX 63.8 6 1 69 32
11 Miami, FL 64.62 8 34 37 15
10 Jacksonville, FL 64.65 34 20 26 16
9 St. Petersburg, FL 65.49 19 54 12 16
8 Madison, WI 65.59 14 2 16 63
7 Scottsdale, AZ 65.78 74 7 3 58
6 Irvine, CA 65.78 3 57 31 1
5 Virginia Beach, VA 66.05 41 3 8 67
4 Tampa, FL 67.41 80 18 6 14
3 Raleigh, NC 67.60 5 5 17 49
2 Orlando, FL 70.53 20 10 1 29
1 Austin, TX 71.29 10 13 4 32
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Fort Worth, Texas ranks 20th.
Fort Worth, Texas ranked 20th with a total score of 61.87.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Henderson, Nevada ranks 19th.
Henderson, Nevada ranked 19th with a total score of 61.88.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Chesapeake, Virginia ranks 18th.
Chesapeake, Virginia ranked 18th with a total score of 62.59.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where San Diego, California ranks 17th.
San Diego, California ranked 17th with a total score of 62.76.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Chandler, Arizona ranks 16th.
Chandler, Arizona ranked 16th with a total score of 62.89.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Gilbert, Arizona ranks 15th.
Gilbert, Arizona ranked 15th with a total score of 63.49.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ranks 14th.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ranked 14th with a total score of 63.74.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Colorado Springs, Colorado ranks 13th.
Colorado Springs, Colorado ranked 13th with a total score of 63.78.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Laredo, Texas ranks 12th.
Laredo, Texas ranked 12th with a total score of 63.80.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Miami, Florida ranks 11th.
Miami, Florida ranked 11th with a total score of 64.62.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Jacksonville, Florida ranks 10th.
Jacksonville, Florida ranked 10th with a total score of 64.65.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where St. Petersburg, Florida ranks 9th.
St. Petersburg, Florida ranked 9th a total score of 65.49.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Madison, Wisconsin ranks 8th.
Madison, Wisconsin ranked 8th with a total score of 65.59.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Scottsdale, Arizona ranks 7th.
Scottsdale, Arizona ranked 7th with a total score of 65.78.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Irvine, California ranks 6th.
Irvine, California ranked 6th with a total score of 65.78.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Virginia Beach, Virginia ranks 5th.
Virginia Beach, Virginia ranked 5th with a total score of 66.05.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Tampa, Florida ranks 4th.
Tampa, Florida ranked 4th with a total score of 67.41.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Raleigh, North Carolina ranks 3rd.
Raleigh, North Carolina ranked 3rd with a total score of 67.60.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Orlando, Florida ranks 2nd.
Orlando, Florida ranked 2nd with a total score of 70.53.
Chart showing best cities for veterans where Austin, Texas ranks 1st.
Austin, Texas ranked 1st with a total score of 71.29.
EBN Staff
Health and wellness Mental Health Healthcare Wellness
MORE FROM EMPLOYEE BENEFIT NEWS