As America celebrates Veterans Day Tuesday, three Florida cities are being noted for their commitment to former military personnel
WalletHub, a personal finance advisory company, completed an analysis of the 100 largest cities across the U.S. and ranked the best places to be a military veteran. The study showed Tampa, Orlando and St. Petersburg are among the 10 best towns in the country for former military personnel.
To compile its list, WalletHub analysts measured 19 key factors, such as affordability, livability and veteran friendliness. Tampa placed second, with the analysis giving the city a 67.45 veterans score. Orlando came in seventh with a 65.97 score, immediately followed by St. Petersburg in eighth with 65.34.
Florida had more towns ranked in the top 10 than any other state. And the Sunshine State had five cities ranked in the top 20, as Miami placed 13th and Jacksonville finished 18th. That’s also more top 20 locales than any other state.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said the list is essential for those who served the country in a military capacity, as they should know which metro areas are most inviting to veterans.
“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,” Lupo said.
Tampa was ranked so high because of a fair shot at making a decent living for veterans.
“The median annual income for veterans grows by an average of over 6% per year, the 24th-highest percentage in the country. The current median income is also decent, at around $53,000, which ranks 38th out of 100 of the most populous cities,” the analysis concluded.
“In addition, Tampa has the 29th-highest number of arts and entertainment establishments that offer military discounts per capita, as well as the eighth-highest number of restaurants offering discounts. This shows that the population appreciates people who have served our country.”
The study also found Tampa has the sixth-most Veterans Administration benefits facilities per capita in the country, and its medical facilities were found to be the second-best in the U.S.
The top city for vets is Austin, Texas, according to WalletHub.
The lowest rated city on the list was Newark, New Jersey, at No. 100. Detroit placed 99th, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was ranked No. 98.