San Antonio is home to many active-duty service members, veterans, National Guard members and reservists, a reflection of the city’s deep military roots. A new ranking says the Alamo City narrowly missed the top spot among the best U.S. cities for veterans.
Veterans United Home Loans released their ranking of the top spots for veteran home buyers on May 18, placing San Antonio at No. 2. According to the ranking, the San Antonio-New Braunfels area is “one of the most military-friendly regions in the country.” What contributed to its high marks was its “deep ties to both active-duty service members and Veterans” through Joint Base San Antonio. However, it does fall a little behind in healthcare and amenities despite a large VA system and local resources, according to the ranking.
Texas is a popular destination for many movers because it has no state income tax — even more enticing for retired military because Texas doesn’t tax military retirement income and offers property tax exemptions for disabled veterans.
“The metro is home to 200,411 Veterans, one of the largest Veteran populations in the study, and performs especially well in community support,” the ranking reads. “It also offers strong financial advantages, with a median listing price of $323,950 and a lower cost of living than many large metros … With its affordability, tax advantages, historic missions, River Walk, and deep military identity, San Antonio remains one of the most accessible and financially friendly options for Veterans.”
According to a local Realtor, San Antonio also offers an abundance of activities, historic attractions, outdoor escapes and urban flair in a location with easy access to Austin, Houston and Dallas. The Realtor wrote, “It’s something you have to experience, but once you do, it’s easy to see why San Antonio is a great place to live.”
The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro area took the top spot. However, two other Texas cities made the list behind San Antonio.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos came in at No. 7 “for its strong job market, rapid growth and high quality of life. Known for its tech sector, outdoor recreation and creative energy, Austin continues to attract Veterans transitioning into civilian careers.” With just 108,817 veterans in the metro area, the military-connected population is smaller than other cities on the list, and the ranking does note that affordability can be a struggle. However, the economy, air quality, outdoor-focused lifestyle, live music scene and more provide a boost.
WalletHub previously ranked Austin above San Antonio for veteran living.
Lastly, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metroplex is No. 10 on the list with “a wide range of housing, employment and lifestyle options” in one of the largest metro areas in the country. It got extra points for an abundance of VA healthcare facilities, nearby installations, airports, job market, sports, dining, arts, outdoors and suburbs.
“The metro has 325,572 Veterans, giving it one of the largest Veteran communities in the ranking.,” the list reads. “Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington also posted the second-highest Veteran population growth of the primary list, signaling that more Veterans are choosing the region for its economic opportunity, housing variety and long-term stability. With a median listing price of $420,000, DFW remains more attainable than many other major metros while still offering the scale and amenities of a large metropolitan area.”