Posted by: Adam McCann

According to the Veterans Association, there are over 19.2 million veterans currently living in the U.S. These veterans often face a host of challenges when re-entering civilian life. Despite Uncle Sam’s promises to provide health care as well as housing, employment and educational assistance upon their return from service, some cannot secure healthcare, jobs or shelter.

Where veterans live can contribute to the problem. Although unemployment and homelessness have declined nationally for this group, such issues are simply worse in certain parts of America. Throughout the U.S., over 37,800 veterans still find themselves without a home. However, there is some good news on the healthcare front. Many VA hospitals have improved their conditions recently. In addition, a recent bill passed in the House of Representatives aims to make the VA’s website more accessible to veterans with disabilities.

To help military veterans find the best places in which to settle down roots based on their status, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 20 key indicators of livability, affordability and veteran-friendliness. They range from share of military skill-related jobs to veteran income growth to availability of VA health facilities. Read on for our findings, expert commentary from a panel of researchers and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/8156/geochart-veteran.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2SMYKkz>  

Best Cities for Veterans to Live

Overall Rank (1 = Best)	City	Total Score	‘Employment’ Rank	‘Economy’ Rank	‘Quality of Life’ Rank	‘Health’ Rank
1	Tampa, FL	72.44	8	12	6	16
2	Austin, TX	72.22	11	17	7	20
3	Orlando, FL	71.94	3	16	9	32
4	Raleigh, NC	71.78	5	4	14	70
5	Scottsdale, AZ	71.45	12	9	3	64
6	Colorado Springs, CO	70.06	17	24	5	49
7	Virginia Beach, VA	68.13	62	2	11	61
8	Gilbert, AZ	67.73	40	3	15	64
9	St. Petersburg, FL	65.67	51	18	23	13
10	Jacksonville, FL	65.50	23	20	36	13
11	Madison, WI	64.50	27	6	21	40
12	Irvine, CA	63.66	50	40	41	1
13	Fort Worth, TX	63.35	70	5	32	20
14	Plano, TX	63.23	82	44	10	20
15	San Diego, CA	62.75	47	78	2	35
16	Boise, ID	62.71	21	36	4	89
17	Columbus, OH	62.16	24	14	37	54
18	Pittsburgh, PA	61.96	20	72	25	30
19	Laredo, TX	61.80	33	1	78	20
20	Denver, CO	61.79	6	50	12	79
21	San Antonio, TX	61.34	29	27	19	47
22	Chesapeake, VA	61.25	57	13	26	61
23	Oklahoma City, OK	60.85	14	10	18	84
24	Durham, NC	60.72	15	55	28	42
25	Lincoln, NE	60.69	49	8	29	94
26	Chandler, AZ	60.47	56	47	22	64
27	Charlotte, NC	60.05	36	30	39	70
28	El Paso, TX	59.31	74	7	33	60
29	Henderson, NV	58.93	64	22	13	99
30	Omaha, NE	58.50	37	15	44	59
31	Arlington, TX	58.17	32	46	66	20
32	Minneapolis, MN	57.65	41	61	24	52
33	Miami, FL	57.45	42	82	43	18
34	Dallas, TX	57.30	26	49	46	45
35	Sacramento, CA	57.30	81	80	34	12
36	San Francisco, CA	57.27	10	98	16	29
37	Mesa, AZ	57.16	58	25	48	64
38	Lubbock, TX	56.90	34	21	74	20
39	Glendale, AZ	56.74	9	41	77	64
40	Seattle, WA	56.74	18	86	20	74
41	Nashville, TN	56.42	4	71	45	92
42	Irving, TX	55.92	48	29	80	20
43	Reno, NV	55.47	25	59	17	91
44	Chula Vista, CA	55.32	88	65	59	1
45	Riverside, CA	55.18	45	66	84	1
46	Portland, OR	55.10	2	87	31	76
47	Kansas City, MO	54.72	13	42	67	78
48	Greensboro, NC	54.31	38	32	76	70
49	Aurora, CO	54.23	65	38	64	49
50	Norfolk, VA	54.12	35	60	60	61
51	Cincinnati, OH	54.08	92	63	42	34
52	Anchorage, AK	53.97	79	26	47	57
53	Fremont, CA	53.56	66	85	54	1
54	Lexington-Fayette, KY	53.52	52	64	52	43
55	Long Beach, CA	53.44	19	94	65	17
56	St. Louis, MO	53.09	46	62	51	51
57	Tucson, AZ	53.04	71	33	30	85
58	Houston, TX	52.99	68	39	70	41
59	Anaheim, CA	52.85	31	89	75	1
60	Phoenix, AZ	52.65	7	34	57	93
61	Atlanta, GA	52.59	43	81	27	77
62	Tulsa, OK	52.12	84	28	72	48
63	Honolulu, HI	51.46	59	99	8	58
64	Buffalo, NY	51.43	95	53	68	19
65	Birmingham, AL	51.34	78	48	63	44
66	Las Vegas, NV	51.33	90	68	1	97
67	Milwaukee, WI	51.28	54	31	87	46
68	Boston, MA	51.20	1	100	69	36
69	Winston-Salem, NC	51.15	44	56	83	70
70	Corpus Christi, TX	51.13	86	23	81	20
71	St. Paul, MN	51.05	77	35	49	98
72	Washington, DC	50.76	16	91	35	80
73	Santa Ana, CA	50.71	22	84	94	1
74	Los Angeles, CA	50.60	76	95	40	33
75	Albuquerque, NM	50.29	53	37	55	87
76	New York, NY	50.28	60	88	50	39
77	San Jose, CA	50.18	61	96	53	1
78	Stockton, CA	50.13	55	70	97	1
79	Garland, TX	50.13	91	67	73	20
80	Fort Wayne, IN	49.92	30	11	82	96
81	San Bernardino, CA	49.68	69	58	98	1
82	Louisville, KY	49.50	63	45	61	81
83	Hialeah, FL	49.40	89	75	79	13
84	Cleveland, OH	49.09	80	73	86	31
85	Baton Rouge, LA	48.72	83	51	71	69
86	Wichita, KS	47.07	73	19	89	75
87	Bakersfield, CA	46.75	98	54	85	1
88	Fresno, CA	45.94	67	77	93	38
89	Oakland, CA	45.49	39	97	90	1
90	Baltimore, MD	44.62	28	92	96	37
91	North Las Vegas, NV	44.57	94	57	56	99
92	New Orleans, LA	44.53	99	83	38	53
93	Chicago, IL	44.51	87	79	62	83
94	Toledo, OH	44.36	75	52	95	90
95	Philadelphia, PA	43.89	93	76	58	82
96	Indianapolis, IN	41.46	72	74	91	86
97	Memphis, TN	40.67	85	43	92	95
98	Jersey City, NJ	36.08	97	90	88	55
99	Newark, NJ	32.24	100	69	100	55
100	Detroit, MI	29.68	96	93	99	88

 

Ask the Experts

Transitioning from active military duty to ordinary life can be difficult for many veterans. For advice on overcoming certain issues faced by veterans undergoing this process, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What are the biggest issues facing veterans today?
2. What factors, financial or otherwise, should a veteran consider when choosing a city in which to live?
3. How can government help veterans succeed financially? How can policy and programs help veterans better manage their finances?
4. How should governments and nonprofits help homeless veterans?
5. How should the VA reform their health care system to better serve the needs of this population? How can veterans evaluate the quality of their local VA health system?

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• Dana Rocha Director of Military and Veterans Success Center, Colorado State University Pueblo
• Rita Case Director, Veteran and Military Student Services, Metropolitan State University Denver

Methodology

In order to determine the best places for veterans to live, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across four key dimensions: 1) Employment, 2) Economy, 3) Quality of Life and 4) Health.

We evaluated those dimensions using 20 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for veterans. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), the square root of the population was used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities. Data for metrics marked with two asterisks (**) were available at state level only.

Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the “city proper” in each case, excluding surrounding cities in the metro area.

Employment – Total Points: 25

• Share of Military Skill-Related Jobs: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)
• Veteran Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~9.09 Points)
• Job Growth: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)Note: This metric measures the average annual rate of job growth between years 2014 and 2018.
• Presence of Veteran Job Fairs: Half Weight (~2.27 Points)Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of a Veteran Job Fair in every city.
• Veteran-Owned Businesses per Veteran Population: Full Weight (~4.55 Points)

Economy – Total Points: 25

• Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: This composite metric comprises the following calculations: Median Home Price / Median Annual Veteran’s Income and Median Annual Rent Price / Median Annual Veteran’s Income.
• Veteran Income Growth: Full Weight (~2.94 Points)Note: This metric measures the average annual rate of veteran income growth between years 2013 and 2018.
• Share of Veterans Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)
• Educational Opportunities: Half Weight (~1.47 Points)Note: This metric is based on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges for Veterans” ranking.
• Median Veteran Income: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)Note: This metric was adjusted for the local cost of living.
• Homeless Veterans per 1,000 Veterans: Double Weight (~5.88 Points)

Quality of Life – Total Points: 25

• Veteran Population: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)Note: “Veteran Population” refers to the number of veterans per 1,000 residents.
• Projected Veteran Population Growth: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)Note: This metric measures the projected increase in the veteran population between years 2018 and 2045.
• Family-Friendliness: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family” ranking.
• Retiree-Friendliness: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “Best & Worst Places to Retire” ranking.
• Restaurants That Offer Military Discounts per Veteran Population*: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
• Arts & Entertainment Establishments That Offer Military Discounts per Veteran Population*: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)

Health – Total Points: 25

• VA Benefits Administration Facilities per Veteran Population**: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: The square root of the veteran population was used to calculate its size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states.
• VA Health Facilities per Veteran Population**: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: The square root of the veteran population was used to calculate its size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states.
• Quality of VA Health Facilities: Triple Weight (~15.00 Points)Note: This composite metric includes:
  • “Patients’ Willingness to Recommend the Veteran Hospitals” score from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “Hospital Report Card”
  • VA hospital performance star rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ “Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning” (SAIL) performance improvement tool
  • VA hospital and nursing-home beds data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ database of inpatient beds by facility

 Videos for News Use:

• YouTube (for web embedding National)
• YouTube (for web embedding Tampa, FL)
• Raw files (for editing into clips)

 Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Council for Community and Economic Research, Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. News & World Report, Yelp, RecruitMilitary and WalletHub research.

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