Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender, today released its 2024 Best Cities for Veterans to Live list and Charleston ranked as being the 7th best.
The Top 10 overall markets for Veterans and service members are:
- Tampa, Fla.
- Rochester, Minn.
- Wichita Falls, Texas
- Fargo, N.D.
- Virginia Beach, Va.
- Watertown, N.Y.
- Charleston
- Medford, Ore.
- Altoona, Pa.
- Sioux Falls, S.D.
In addition to the overall list, the complete analysis includes separate rankings of the best big and small cities based on population size.
You can see the full list here.
“Our in-depth analysis factors in feedback and priorities from hundreds of Veterans we surveyed, so we can really dig into what those who serve are looking for when it comes to planting roots and building communities,” said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United. “These cities, both big and small, are great places to raise a family, offer healthy job markets, an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy for those kicking off the next chapter after the military and provide ample opportunities to connect with fellow Veterans.”
Each quarter, Veterans United surveys Veterans to learn which factors are most important to them when deciding where to live. The Best Cities to Live list analyzes more than 500 metropolitan markets based on 25 factors, including cost of living, crime, housing affordability and a strong Veteran community, which all rank high among Veterans.
Cost of living: Higher food, gasoline and utility costs mean less money for savings and discretionary spending. Veterans United considered the cost of goods and services to measure the cost of living. A higher composite score means a lower cost of living. With a composite score of 90.17, Sioux Falls was the most affordable of the Top 10 cities, followed by Wichita Falls at 90.13. At the other end of the spectrum, Virginia Beach (85.56) ranked as the most expensive city in the Top 10, slightly above the national average of 86.64.
Crime: Veterans and service members consistently rank crime as one of the most important factors in deciding where to live. Veterans United analyzed the FBI’s local violent and property crime rates to assign a crime score to each market. A higher composite score means a lower crime rate. With a composite score of 90.71, Rochester ranked No. 1, putting it about 19 points higher than the national average score of 80.72. Only two cities in the Top 10 had a crime rate that was slightly above the national average, with Sioux Falls and Charleston–North Charleston scoring 79.30 and 77.97, respectively.
Median home price: Affordability is a major consideration for Veteran homebuyers. Half of the markets in the Top 10 – Altoona, Wichita Falls, Fargo, Watertown and Sioux Falls – have median home prices that are below the national median home price of $383,538. Altoona offered the most affordable median home price at $129,950. At $415,500, Tampa has the highest median home price among the Top 10.
Quality of life: To determine what makes a good place to live, Veterans United looked at a combination of highly rated quality of life factors for Veterans, such as local air quality, proximity to essentials like grocery stores, and local amenities, including outdoor activities and restaurants. The Top 10 markets rank high in each of these categories. For instance, top-rated Tampa has plenty of day and nighttime activities to appeal to all ages, from multiple amusement parks to museums, theaters and beautiful sandy beaches.
Veteran community: Veterans and service members want to be near people who share common experiences and beliefs. To assess a Veteran community score, Veterans United examined both the local community as well as the state benefits afforded to Veterans. Wichita Falls (No. 3 on the Best Cities list) had the highest score of all 500+ cities, with a score of 166.71, well above the average of 128.1. Wichita Falls is also a beacon to the Veteran community because of the nearby Sheppard Air Force Base and local organizations, such as Base Camp Lindsey, which has a mission to eliminate Veteran homelessness in northern Texas.
