Where are the best US cities for veterans to live? This California spot made the top 10

California is home to one of the top 10 cities for military veterans in the United States, according to WalletHub.

The personal finance website recently released its list of Best and Worst Places for Veterans to Live in 2024, comparing the 100 largest U.S. cities based on livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness.

“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 also have “large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts,” Lupo said.

Austin, Texas, was the No. 1 place in the nation for veterans to settle down, WalletHub said, thanks to its strong job market, top-ranked colleges and high number of restaurants and arts establishments per capita offering military discounts.

Orlando came in second on WalletHub’s list, while Raleigh, North Carolina, was third.

Here’s where California cities ranked, according to WalletHub:

What’s the best California city for military veterans?

Irvine was the highest ranking California city on WalletHub’s list of the best places in the United States for military veterans, landing in sixth place with a total score of 65.78 out of 100.

According to WalletHub, the Southern California city had the best health care options for veterans and ranked third in the nation in terms of employment opportunities.

However, Irvine landed in the middle of the pack — at No. 51 — when it came to affordability.

Only one other California city made the top 20: San Diego, which landed at No. 17.

A number of Northern California cities ranked lower on the list, including Sacramento at No. 68.



Stockton was No. 87, and Fresno was No. 92.

Where are the top 10 places for veterans to live in US?

These are the top 10 cities for veterans, according to WalletHub:

1. Austin, Texas
2. Orlando
3. Raleigh, North Carolina
4. Tampa, Florida
5. Virginia Beach, Virginia
6. Irvine
7. Scottsdale, Arizona
8. Madison, Wisconsin
9. St. Petersburg, Florida
10. Jacksonville, Florida

How did WalletHub come up with its rankings?

To determine the best places for veterans to live, WalletHub said it compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions:

• Employment
• Economy
• Quality of life
• Health

The website evaluated those dimensions using 19 relevant metrics. They ranged from veterans’ unemployment rate and housing affordability to the number of restaurants that offer discounts for veterans and the availability of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health facilities.

WalletHub determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used those scores to rank them.

This story was originally published November 11, 2024 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Where are the best US cities for veterans to live? This California spot made the top 10."

Sarah Linn

The Tribune

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Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.