The 10 best cities for veterans

For many veterans, returning home often means facing a high level of stress, unemployment and housing insecurity.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, vets only make up 6% of the population but account for 8% of homeless people in the U.S. Veterans and their families also struggle with higher rates of financial stress, due to rising unemployment rates and healthcare costs, according to data from WalletHub. The pandemic has only worsened these stressors, with the Department of Labor estimating a 3% increase in unemployment rates.

To present an informed look at which cities offer supportive environments for a return to civilian life, WalletHub ranked the best places to live for vets. Cities were given a score out of 100 based on metrics such as vet employment rate, affordable housing, educational opportunities, accessible art and entertainment establishments, vaccination rates and quality of VA health facilities.

“All cities should be quick to take care of veterans’ needs, considering how much veterans have sacrificed to serve the country and keep it safe,” says Jill Gonzalez, an analyst at WalletHub. “We spend an enormous amount of money on national defense and military operations, yet comparatively little on helping veterans once their service is done.”

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