The 25 best US cities for veterans to live, ranked
- According to the Veterans Association, there are currently more than 19.2 million veterans living in America.
- However, when it comes to adjusting to civilian life, some areas of the country are better for veterans than others.
- WalletHub ranked the 100 largest US cities in four major categories — employment, economy, quality of life, and health — to determine the best cities for veterans to live in after leaving the service.
- The top three best US cities for veterans to call home are Tampa, Florida; Austin, Texas; and Orlando, Florida.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
For the more than 19 million veterans currently living in the United States, where you live can be essential to your access to healthcare, good employment, and a strong quality of life.
WalletHub recently conducted a report of the best US cities for veterans, analyzing 20 key indicators of livability, affordability, and veteran-friendliness. The study then provided rankings — out of 100 — for each category.
Employment rankings took into account the number of veteran-owned businesses per veteran population and opportunities for job growth, as well as the availability of jobs that utilize military-learned skills. Economy rankings considered factors such as the median veteran income and veteran homelessness rates, while quality of life was determined by analyzing veteran population, restaurants with military discounts, and more.
The study found that Tampa, Florida, triumphed as the best major US city for veterans, earning a total score of 72.44 out of a possible 100. Boston, Massachusetts, despite ranking at No. 68 overall, earned the highest ranking for veteran employment.
Keep reading to find out the top 25 best US cities for veterans.
SEE ALSO: The 50 best places to live in America right now, ranked
25. Lincoln, Nebraska
Total score: 60.69
Employment (ranked out of 100): 49th
Economy (ranked out of 100): 8th
Quality of life (ranked out of 100): 29th
Health (ranked out of 100): 94th
24. Durham, North Carolina
Total score: 60.72
Employment: 15
Economy: 55
Quality of life: 28
Health: 42
23. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Total score: 60.85
Employment: 14
Economy: 10
Quality of life: 18
Health: 84
22. Chesapeake, Virginia
Total score: 61.25
Employment: 57
Economy: 13
Quality of life: 26
Health: 61
21. San Antonio, Texas
Total score: 61.34
Employment: 29
Economy: 27
Quality of life: 19
Health: 47
20. Denver, Colorado
Total score: 61.79
Employment: 6
Economy: 50
Quality of life: 12
Health: 79
19. Laredo, Texas
Total score: 61.80
Employment: 33
Economy: 1
Quality of life: 78
Health: 20
18. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Total score: 61.96
Employment: 20
Economy: 72
Quality of life: 25
Health: 30
17. Columbus, Ohio
Total score: 62.16
Employment: 24
Economy: 14
Quality of life: 37
Health: 54
16. Boise, Idaho
Total score: 62.71
Employment: 21
Economy: 36
Quality of life: 4
Health: 89
15. San Diego, California
Total score: 62.75
Employment: 47
Economy: 78
Quality of life: 2
Health: 35
14. Plano, Texas
Total score: 63.23
Employment: 82
Economy: 44
Quality of life: 10
Health: 20
13. Fort Worth, Texas
Total score: 63.35
Employment: 70
Economy: 5
Quality of life: 32
Health: 20
12. Irvine, California
Total score: 63.66
Employment: 50
Economy: 40
Quality of life: 41
Health: 1
11. Madison, Wisconsin
Total score: 64.50
Employment: 27
Economy: 6
Quality of life: 21
Health: 40
10. Jacksonville, Florida
Total score: 65.50
Employment: 23
Economy: 20
Quality of life: 36
Health: 13
9. St. Petersburg, Florida
Total score: 65.67
Employment: 51
Economy: 18
Quality of life: 23
Health: 13
8. Gilbert, Arizona
Total score: 67.73
Employment: 40
Economy: 3
Quality of life: 15
Health: 64
7. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Total score: 68.13
Employment: 62
Economy: 2
Quality of life: 11
Health: 61
6. Colorado Springs, Colorado
Total score: 70.06
Employment: 17
Economy: 24
Quality of life: 5
Health: 49
5. Scottsdale, Arizona
Total score: 71.45
Employment: 12
Economy: 9
Quality of life: 3
Health: 64
4. Raleigh, North Carolina
Total score: 71.78
Employment: 5
Economy: 4
Quality of life: 14
Health: 70
3. Orlando, Florida
Total score: 71.94
Employment: 3
Economy: 16
Quality of life: 9
Health: 32
2. Austin, Texas
Total score: 72.22
Employment: 11
Economy: 17
Quality of life: 7
Health: 20
1. Tampa, Florida
Total score: 72.44
Employment: 8
Economy: 12
Quality of life: 6
Health: 16