Are some U.S. cities better for veterans than others? A study published shortly before Veterans Day says yes.
The study was conducted by WalletHub, a personal finance company, and published on Nov. 7. The survey analyzed 100 of the most-populated U.S. cities, and compared how each city performed in four distinct categories.
“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,” the study’s methodology section reads. “We evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics….each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for veterans.”
Which cities made it to the top of the list? Here are the top 20:
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20. Fort Worth, Texas
19. Henderson, Nevada
18. Chesapeake, Virginia
17. San Diego, California
16. Chandler, Arizona
15. Gilbert, Arizona
14. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
13. Colorado Springs, Colorado
12. Laredo, Texas
11. Miami, Florida
10. Jacksonville, Florida
9. St. Petersburg, Florida
8. Madison, Wisconsin
7. Scottsdale, Arizona
6. Irvine, California
5. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Tampa, Florida
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
2. Orlando, Florida
1. Austin, Texas
Austin topped WalletHub’s list because of the educational, employment and entertainment opportunities in the city.
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“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,” the study added. “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.”
Orlando, which boasts higher-quality services for veterans compared to other American cities, was a close second to Austin.
“The median annual income for veterans grows by an average of over 9% per year, the fourth-highest percentage in the country,” WalletHub found. “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.”
The study also commended the job and educational opportunities offered in Raleigh.
“Raleigh, NC, is the third-best city for veterans, in large part because it has the third-lowest veteran homelessness rate in the country,” the study said. “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.”
Three cities were at the bottom of the list: Memphis, Tennessee; Detroit, Michigan; and Newark, New Jersey.
The latter two cities have the highest rate of unemployed veterans, along with Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Newark had the lowest quality of life out of all 100 cities surveyed.
“Fortunately, the unemployment rate for veterans is very low, at 2.8%, compared to 3.9% for the overall population,” the study noted. “However, veteran homelessness is still a big problem, as there are over 35,000 homeless veterans.”
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo noted the importance of veterans having access to healthcare, employment opportunities and education once they leave military service.
“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,” Lupo said.
Click here to read the study’s full findings.
