This Texas city is No. 1 in America for veterans to ‘forge friendships.’ Why it stands out
A new report found that the best city in America for veterans to call home is located in Texas.
In a recent WalletHub study of the Best and Worst Places for Veterans to Live in 2024, Austin ranked No. 1.
Over 17.9 million veterans currently live in the United States, and over 35,000 are homeless.
WalletHub examined 19 important livability, affordability, and veteran-friendliness metrics to determine the top 100 US locations for military veterans to settle down.
“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,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.
“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.”
Experts examined metrics such as the number of occupations that require military skills, growth in veteran income, and accessibility of VA medical facilities.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale.
Austin received a 71.29 total score, ranking it as the best city for veterans to live in. Newark, New Jersey, received a 28.92 total score, ranking it as the worst.
Why is Austin the best place for veterans?
Experts said Austin has the greatest veterans’ universities in the nation and the ninth-highest median annual income for veterans, at over $59,000, making it the best city for veterans.
It also boasts the nation’s fourth-best job growth rate.
Veterans in Austin benefit from living in an area where they can connect with people who have experienced similar things and build a supportive group.
“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,” WalletHub said. “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.”
Austin is expected to see the second-largest rise of veterans between 2023 and 2050, which will facilitate veteran socialization and friendship-building, experts said.
Furthermore, Austin is a great place for veterans to enjoy dining out and entertainment.
Military discounts are available at the 11th-highest number of restaurants and entertainment venues per capita in the city.
Best and Worst cities for veterans to live in 2024
Austin, TX
Orlando, FL
Raleigh, NC
Tampa, FL
Virginia Beach, VA
Irvine, CA
Scottsdale, AZ
Madison, WI
St. Petersburg, FL
Jacksonville, FL
