This is the article for you if you are a veteran, if you are married to one, or if you are the child of one. It is an article I have longed to put together. Most veterans, as is well known, still leave the service with some kind of injury or disability-applied reports are mixed, but anywhere from 75% to 90% alluded to this harsh reality.
Benefits exist if you go through the process of those injuries or disabilities. By choosing a place to live that has good access to the Veterans Facilities, there may be more of a difference. Again, many cities and states provide additional benefits for veterans in the form of tax breaks, job opportunities, etc.
I had held off on discussing this topic because it just seemed a little weird-like I wasn’t quite sure how to approach it. Also, I just didn’t think it would be as interesting to most people as my content usually is. A recent conversation with an army buddy who passed away from cancer changed my mind.
The other thing was that one of our last conversations on Facebook got me thinking: he asked why I’d never made this video. I felt it incumbent upon myself, for him and all of you, to do it. And here we are.
Let’s dive in and take a deeper look at the best cities for veterans, and for what reasons.
1. Providence, Rhode Island
Completely out of left field, but at the top of that list is Providence. Rhode Island has the most VA health facilities per 10,000 veterans and comes in second in regard to veteran-friendly jobs. The Providence VA Medical Center currently operates 32 specialty clinics and research programs supported by more than $20 million in funding.
This further helps to make it one of the best places in the state to receive top-notch care and services for veterans.
2. Salt Lake City, Utah
Utah has very few major military bases, yet Salt Lake City ranks’ number one in the country for jobs friendly to veterans. The George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center with 10 outpatient clinics has above-and-beyond care for veterans.
They even have a transitional home program entitled “Homeless to Hopeful” and a Fisher House for families to stay while their loved one veteran is receiving care. This community-based approach of the city makes it one of the strongest contenders for any veteran seeking to get support.
3. Miami, Florida
Surprisingly, perhaps, the Miami area is a pretty great place for veterans. The Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center in downtown Miami sees about 63,000 veterans annually. Miami ranks fifth in the nation in terms of mental health counselors for veterans and is considered one of the leading areas for spinal cord injuries and rehabilitation.
Veterans who reside in Miami can access different facilities across several counties.
4. St. Louis, Missouri
Traditionally, Missouri has been rated as a military-friendly state. St. Louis has the John Cochran VA Medical Center and Jefferson Barracks VA Hospital, offering premium services for veterans. Safe haven programs are extended to homeless veterans in the city, ensuring an easy transition from homelessness to employment and into their own home.
Missouri, in general, does have a lot of different programs offered for veterans, creating quite an attractive package.
5. Syracuse, New York
Apart from the cold, Syracuse is an excellent city for veterans. It has been ranked number three in the U.S. in the number of VA health care facilities per 10,000 vets.
Syracuse University goes out of its way to make education affordable for them, with programs geared toward the veterans. The city has a vast hospital and also Fort Drum nearby, therefore making it very resourceful for military families.
6. Des Moines, Iowa
That says a lot about its treatment of its service members: almost 40% of Iowa’s employers prefer to hire veterans.
Facilities from Camp Dodge to the VA Central Iowa Health Care System are located in Des Moines. They also have something called “Home Base Iowa,” intended to help veterans find work, education, and various other services. Des Moines proudly supports all veterans, active military, and their reservists.
7. Tampa, Florida
Tampa is another highly recommended place for veterans due to the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, bringing services and care to more than 100,000 veterans of Central Florida.
They also have MacDill Air Force Base, which affords shopping privileges and health opportunities to retired and disabled veterans. They have great veteran-friendly policies and discounts available in Tampa, not to mention very understanding attitudes toward retirees.
8. Atlanta, Georgia
Military tradition has steeped Georgia as a whole, but Atlanta, in particular, has quite a bit to offer veterans. There is a large VA facility, along with many clinics scattered across the state. Additionally, veterans have access to Fort Benning and other bases. Furthermore, Atlanta ranks third in the nation for veteran-friendly job offerings.
One of the truly unique things it has to offer is “VetLanta,” a social and business networking club strictly for veterans.
9. Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is not an ideal place to live for most people, but as a city, it’s a fairly good one for veterans. The Dayton VA Medical Center just so happens to be one of three of the oldest healthcare facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and has fantastic services; it opened its doors in 1867 and still serves about 40,000 veterans every year.
It is also a nationwide leader in research regarding traumatic brain injuries, prosthetics, PTSD, and more. Ohio also offers crisis counseling and homestead exemptions to those who serve.
10. Washington, D.C.
It just wasn’t right, leaving the nation’s capital off this list. Washington D.C. isn’t without its pretty sweet veteran offers: retirement communities for enlisted retirees; property tax exemptions for those 65 years or over or disabled; and a nice little employment preference program where veterans get first dibs over equally qualified candidates.
Veterans serving with the D.C. National Guard can receive scholarship reimbursements of up to $1,500 per semester. The only reason D.C. isn’t higher up is that the facilities are lacking compared to other places that come up on this list.
That is all for the top cities for veterans. Hopefully, that has helped some of you out there to find the right place to call home. Be kind to each other out there.
