TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)— Tampa was ranked the second-best city for veterans to live, according to a WalletHub survey.

WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities with 19 key factors of livability, affordability, and veteran friendliness for the survey and found that Austin, Texas, was the best city for veterans.

Tampa was ranked second-best due to the rising income expectations for veterans, military discounts, and veterans’ services.

“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. The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst, said.

The top five best cities for veterans are:

Orlando was ranked seventh in the survey for the best city for veterans to live.

According to WalletHub, Tampa was ranked 29th-highest number of arts and entertainment establishments that offer military discounts, as well as the eighth-highest number of restaurants offering discounts.

Tampa also has the sixth-most VA benefits facilities per capita and the third-most VA health facilities per capita, the survey said.

There are nearly 17.6 million veterans currently living in the U.S. who often face challenges when re-entering civilian life.

“The unemployment rate for veterans is relatively low at 3.1%, compared to 4.3% for the overall population. However, veteran homelessness is still a big problem, and there are around 33,000 homeless veterans,” WalletHub said.

For the full list, visit their website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.