Many Veterans often think about where they want to go to rest or kick off civilian life after their service in the U.S. military is over. This raises the question of what the best cities for Veterans are post-ETS. Between the lists we cover below, many portions of the U.S. are represented, so you won’t have to travel far to find a great, Veteran-friendly city (though we know you’re not afraid of a little travel). Explore 2022’s official best cities for Veterans and the unique benefits each city offers to you, our nation’s heroes. Read next:10 Best States for Military Retirement

What Are the Best Cities for Military Retirees?

For the military members who are coming close to their retirement from service, you might want to start considering where you want to spend your civilian life. In addition to your experiences while being stationed at different bases across the country, the following lists of best cities for military Veterans are a great place to start! It’s important to note that there are, on average, 250,000 military members who finish their service each year. Therefore, it’s important to consider the many variables that allow Veterans to have an easy transition to civilian life. One of the most important is where they decide to put roots once military service is over for them. There are two lists from reliable sites, Navy Federal Credit Union and WalletHub, that were recently compiled and released. From these lists, we can compare and determine where the best cities for Veterans are at.

Navy Federal Credit Union’s List

According to Navy Federal Credit Union, these are the best cities for military Veterans after service:

1. Charleston, South Carolina
2. Norristown, Pennsylvania
3. Cambridge, Massachusetts
4. San Diego, California
5. Naples, Florida
6. Anchorage, Alaska
7. Derry, New Hampshire
8. Virginia Beach, Virginia
9. Hempstead, New York
10. Waukegan, Illinois

Navy Federal ranked the cities based on a variety of factors, including the local Veteran community and cost of living. Based on those variables, each city was given a score. These scores were then compiled once all factors had been looked at. With these final numbers, Navy Federal could determine which cities are best for those who are transitioning into civilian life. Due to the recent pandemic, priorities have shifted for many Veterans and their families, leading to a much different list than you may have seen from Navy Federal before.

WalletHub’s List

WalletHub’s list is different from Navy Federal’s list when it comes to the best cities for Veterans. As far as their overall rankings are concerned, the best cities are as follows:

1. Raleigh, North Carolina
2. Austin, Texas
3. Laredo, Texas
4. Madison, Wisconsin
5. Tampa, Florida
6. Orlando, Florida
7. Boise, Idaho
8. Lincoln, Nebraska
9. Irvine, California
10. Colorado Springs, Colorado

WalletHub’s methodology for these rankings of the best cities for military retirees to live in is calculated by four key dimensions: “Employment, Economy, Quality of Life, and Health.” When it comes to employment, WalletHub considers the factors that go into employment in these respective cities. For starters, there’s the “share of military skill-related jobs,” a factor that’s important and vital for those pursuing a career after their active service in the military is over. Those who want to continue their professional career and have transferable skills from the military may want to consider the cities listed above. Other factors that WalletHub took into consideration were job growth and the Veteran unemployment rate. These two factors are significant to the ranking of the cities listed above, as they offer the assurance that the cities will have the proper channels to provide military Veterans opportunities that they need. The dimension of “Economy” includes the cost of housing, income growth for Vets, the median income for Veterans in the city, and educational opportunities available to military retirees. “Quality of Life” includes the size of the local Veteran population, how friendly the area is to families and retirees, and local businesses that offer military discounts. Lastly, for “Health,” WalletHub considered the “percentage of residents who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, VA benefits administration facilities per Veteran population, VA health facilities per Veteran population, and the quality of VA health facilities.” Veterans and their families should rest reassured that these cities are carefully ranked based on WalletHub’s key dimensions.

What Are the Worst Cities for Veterans To Live In?

While we discuss the best cities for Veterans to live in, it’s also important to note the worst cities for Veterans so that Veterans can avoid or weigh their options on moving there. The cities that Veterans should rethink or avoid are the following:

1. Detroit, Michigan
2. Newark, New Jersey
3. Memphis, Tennessee
4. Baltimore, Maryland
5. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
6. Toledo, Ohio
7. Stockton, California
8. Chicago, Illinois
9. Fresno, California
10. Indianapolis, Indiana

With WalletHub’s ranking, these cities are the lowest and are considered cities that wouldn't be the most agreeable for military personnel who are finishing up their service. These cities are ranked based on the same four key dimensions: Employment, Economy, Quality of Life, and Health. With all things considered, Detroit, Michigan, is ranked as the worst city for Veterans once they finish their service. So, for Veterans out there who are looking to move or relocate to a different city, you should consider the lists shown further above and their ranking criteria as factors to take into consideration when transitioning out of the military. There are many options for you, and each has its own benefits, pros, and cons. Thanks to these well-researched lists of the best cities for Veterans in 2022, you can decide where you want to move after service – or at least where you don’t want to move! Suggested read:14 Certifications for Jobs To Help You Find a Career After Military Service