Thanks for Your Service: The Very Best American Cities for Veterans

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On Veterans Day, Americans give a big collective thank-you to the estimated 30 million military veterans for their service to our country. But those who’ve returned from service abroad often face challenges at home, and some places are definitely more hospitable to our nation’s veterans than others.

So where are the best places for former military men and women? Personal finance website WalletHub found out by ranking the 100 largest cities. The website looked at employment opportunities for veterans, local economies, quality of life, veteran population, and local health facilities for veterans in each of the cities to come up with its findings.

“Many veterans retire from the military by their mid-30s to mid-40s and need to enter or re-enter the civilian workforce,”  WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said in a statement. “That’s why cities with strong local economies and a job market favoring military skill sets are so important for veterans, with emphasis on the VA health system, as well.”

What are the best cities for veterans?

It turns out that funky Austin, TX, whose slogan is “Keep Austin Weird,” is the best city for vets, according to the report. The state capital has the lowest veteran unemployment rate in the nation.

Austin also scored highly for having plenty of employment opportunities, a strong economy, and an attractive quality of life for vets—and just about everyone else.

“It’s a great place for veterans. There’s a large community, and everyone I know is very, very happy to be here,” says real estate agent Kyle Reed of Pauly Presley Realty in Austin.

Reed, who works with many veteran buyers, served as an army counterintelligence agent from 2001 from 2015. His service included two tours in Iraq. “Having a support network of people who know what it’s like makes it a lot easier for those just getting out of the military.”

Many of the Austin banks and credit unions offers special low-down, low-interest mortgages for veterans, he says.

“If a veteran is looking to continue to support his family postmilitary, a strong local economy is key,” Gonzalez said. “Look for cities that value their vets via veteran-owned businesses or a high number of jobs with military-based skill sets needed.”

The best cities for veterans:

1. Austin, TX
2. Colorado Springs, CO
3. Virginia Beach, VA
4. Raleigh, NC
5. Plano, TX
6. Tampa, FL
7. Fremont, CA
8. Seattle, WA
9. San Diego, CA
10. Boise, ID

What are the worst cities for veterans?

Not all cities are quite so hospitable for veterans. Detroit was ranked the worst for former members of the military, according to the WalletHub report.

The city has one of the highest numbers of homeless veterans relative to the overall population and a high poverty rate among one-time service men and women. It also had some of the fewest veteran-owned businesses and earned low marks for its struggling economy, a low quality of life, and fewer health services for vets.

The worst cities for veterans:

1. Detroit, MI
2. Newark, NJ
3. Baltimore, MD
4. Hialeah, FL
5. Memphis, TN
6. Birmingham, AL
7. North Las Vegas, NV
8. Toledo, OH
9. San Bernardino, CA
10. Cleveland, OH

The post Thanks for Your Service: The Very Best American Cities for Veterans appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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