Military Times evaluated 581 places on veteran culture and services, economic indicators and livability factors, including 240 medium-sized cities with populations of at least 75,000 but fewer than 200,000. The top 50 are:
Best medium cities: 75,000-199,999 people |
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Population |
Population Growth |
Median income |
Unemployment rate |
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| Rank | City | Overall | Veteran | Military | Overall | Veteran | Median home price | Median monthly rent | Nonveteran | Veteran | Civilian | Veteran | Number of installations within 25 miles (nearest) | Number of VA health facilities within 50 miles | Number of VA benefits facilities within 75 miles | 2014 crime reports per 1,000 people | Average travel time to work in minutes | Great- Schools rating | Area health | Best for Vets organizations within 25 miles | |
| 1 | Alexandria, Va. | 121,867 | 8,962 | 1,764 | 0.4% | -10.3% | $520,300 | $1,502 | $51,671 | $87,033 | 3.8% | 0.6% | 13 (Headquarters, Marine Corps) | 26 | 15 | 21.6 | 32 | 4 |  |
C B E F L | |
| 2 | Arlington, Va. | 184,925 | 12,995 | 3,047 | 0.4% | 8.9% | $604,600 | $1,897 | $61,640 | $84,506 | 3.2% | 4.6% | 14 (Fort Myer) | 26 | 15 | no data | 29.4 | 7 |  |
C B E F L | |
| 3 | Centennial, Colo. | 82,578 | 7,859 | 0 | 2.7% | 33.4% | $328,800 | $1,335 | $45,207 | $51,034 | 4.3% | 1.5% | 1 (Buckley AFB) | 9 | 8 | 13.4 | 26 | 8 | |
C T B E F L | |
| 4 | Pearland, Texas | 75,049 | 6,595 | 0 | 2.2% | 28% | $182,100 | $1,229 | $50,080 | $64,644 | 3.1% | 6.7% | 0 | 11 | 2 | 21.7 | no data | 8 |  |
C E F L | |
| 5 | Columbia, Md. | 77,045 | 6,220 | 141 | -3.7% | -8% | $367,700 | $1,629 | $51,107 | $80,721 | 5% | 0.9% | 9 (Fort Meade) | 25 | 17 | no data | 30.9 | 6 | |
C B E F L | |
| 6 | Lakewood, Colo. | 118,950 | 10,493 | 175 | -0.2% | -6.2% | $264,000 | $1,018 | $32,624 | $37,423 | 4% | 2.2% | 1 (Buckley AFB) | 8 | 8 | no data | 26.6 | 6 | |
C T B E F L | |
| 7 | Mission Viejo, Calif. | 77,654 | 4,818 | 0 | 1.8% | -30.8% | $624,300 | $1,984 | $40,225 | $53,538 | 6.1% | no data | 1 (Camp Pendleton) | 25 | 10 | 9.6 | no data | 9 | |
F | |
| 8 | Olathe, Kan. | 93,996 | 5,922 | 34 | 0.9% | -10.2% | $203,800 | $953 | $35,442 | $60,425 | 4.5% | 2.2% | 0 | 16 | 1 | 13.9 | 21.2 | 7 | |
C B F | |
| 9 | Torrance, Calif. | 116,013 | 8,996 | 181 | -0.9% | 22.2% | $659,800 | $1,579 | $40,237 | $53,004 | 5.8% | 7.6% | 2 (Los Angeles AFB) | 22 | 7 | 18.8 | 29 | 8 |  |
C T B E F | |
| 10 | Overland Park, Kan. | 142,513 | 9,531 | 0 | 4% | -6% | $235,000 | $1,032 | $38,583 | $46,810 | 4.4% | no data | 0 | 14 | 1 | 18.3 | 20.5 | 8 | |
F | |
| 11 | Arvada, Colo. | 89,360 | 8,261 | 25 | 4.4% | -3.2% | $267,400 | $1,082 | $33,229 | $45,166 | 4.1% | 8.1% | 1 (Buckley AFB) | 11 | 3 | 25.6 | 27.5 | 7 | |
C T B E F L | |
| 12 | Chesapeake, Va. | 170,160 | 26,254 | 6,261 | 1.5% | 4.2% | $253,000 | $1,086 | $32,084 | $53,509 | 7.2% | 7.2% | 8 (NSA Northwest Annex) | 6 | 6 | no data | 25.4 | 7 | |
C B F L | |
| 13 | Norman, Okla. | 97,618 | 7,615 | 276 | 5.6% | -8.2% | $162,300 | $768 | $25,184 | $43,866 | 3.8% | no data | 1 (Tinker AFB) | 5 | 3 | 28.6 | 20.8 | 7 |  |
E F L | |
| 14 | Gilbert, Ariz. | 159,133 | 10,373 | 185 | 1.7% | 5.6% | $280,100 | $1,285 | $39,144 | $47,770 | 5.6% | 2.8% | 0 | 12 | 4 | 15.8 | 27.3 | 8 | |
C B F L | |
| 15 | Irvine, Calif. | 188,849 | 5,496 | 0 | 0.9% | -18% | $718,800 | $1,879 | $48,730 | $78,194 | 5.9% | 1.9% | 1 (NAVWEAPSTA Seal Beach) | 26 | 8 | 13 | 24 | 10 | |
F | |
| 16 | Bellevue, Wash. | 108,886 | 6,505 | 0 | 3.7% | 15.1% | $597,300 | $1,618 | $46,161 | $53,881 | 5.9% | 8.6% | 1 (Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton) | 11 | 7 | 35.1 | 23.3 | 7 | |
C E F L | |
| 17 | Cary, N.C. | 117,089 | 6,361 | 151 | 4.5% | -9.1% | $298,800 | $1,051 | $40,344 | $59,003 | 4.3% | 8.6% | 0 | 11 | 3 | 11.2 | 21 | 9 | |
F | |
| 18 | Chula Vista, Calif. | 189,816 | 16,898 | 2,781 | 4.3% | -0.8% | $412,200 | $1,395 | $27,129 | $55,801 | 9.9% | 7.9% | 9 (Naval Base San Diego) | 12 | 8 | 19.8 | 26.8 | 7 | |
C B F L | |
| 19 | Frisco, Texas | 97,299 | 6,571 | 72 | 5.9% | 17.7% | $294,100 | $1,222 | $60,150 | $77,200 | 4% | 1.3% | 0 | 14 | 0 | 18.7 | 30 | 9 | |
C E F | |
| 20 | Sandy Springs, Ga. | 80,149 | 4,068 | 110 | 3.5% | 13.3% | $395,400 | $1,037 | $37,344 | $50,205 | 5.4% | no data | 0 | 17 | 2 | 28.7 | 24.2 | no data | |
C E F | |
| 21 | Oceanside, Calif. | 133,631 | 17,404 | 2,954 | 0.9% | 14.9% | $392,800 | $1,391 | $28,925 | $46,026 | 5.4% | 4.8% | 1 (Camp Pendleton) | 19 | 8 | 26.6 | 27.2 | 6 | |
C F | |
| 22 | Newport News, Va. | 132,261 | 22,933 | 7,830 | 0.1% | 22% | $184,900 | $928 | $26,418 | $41,684 | 8.4% | 6.4% | 8 (Fort Eustis) | 5 | 6 | 34.7 | 22.9 | 3 |  |
C T B F L | |
| 23 | Brandon, Fla. | 83,120 | 8,647 | 700 | -2.3% | -10.4% | $157,700 | $1,084 | $30,535 | $37,443 | 6.2% | 1.2% | 1 (Macdill AFB) | 19 | 3 | no data | 25.2 | 6 | |
C B F L | |
| 24 | Chandler, Ariz. | 186,266 | 13,276 | 0 | 2.6% | -0.8% | $249,000 | $1,130 | $35,322 | $43,539 | 5.1% | 7% | 0 | 12 | 4 | 24.2 | 22.9 | 8 | |
C B F L | |
| 25 | Clearwater, Fla. | 90,756 | 9,456 | 162 | 2% | 15.5% | $148,300 | $977 | $25,986 | $27,354 | 5.3% | no data | 1 (Macdill AFB) | 17 | 3 | 44.7 | 23.3 | 5 | |
C B F L | |
| 26 | Carrollton, Texas | 96,612 | 4,669 | 51 | 1% | -16.9% | $181,800 | $1,031 | $32,305 | $51,211 | 3.7% | no data | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 24.8 | 6 | |
C B E F | |
| 27 | Broken Arrow, Okla. | 77,631 | 6,680 | 24 | 0.8% | 5.6% | $157,000 | $978 | $36,032 | $48,087 | 4.5% | 1.3% | 0 | 5 | 1 | 17.8 | no data | 6 |  |
F | |
| 28 | Huntington Beach, Calif. | 162,792 | 10,289 | 79 | 3.9% | -1% | $652,200 | $1,638 | $40,414 | $43,792 | 4.7% | 2.4% | 1 (NAVWEAPSTA Seal Beach) | 22 | 6 | 23.2 | 29.3 | 9 | |
F | |
| 29 | Scottsdale, Ariz. | 194,113 | 15,753 | 0 | 4.5% | -9.5% | $413,100 | $1,165 | $39,960 | $44,121 | 4.4% | 2.9% | 0 | 11 | 4 | no data | 21.2 | 8 | |
C B F L | |
| 30 | McKinney, Texas | 109,605 | 8,165 | 108 | 9.1% | 21.3% | $221,700 | $1,076 | $40,702 | $56,823 | 5.3% | 1.7% | 0 | 13 | 0 | 20.1 | 28.9 | 8 | |
C F | |
| 31 | Richardson, Texas | 84,888 | 5,971 | 108 | 4.5% | 19.8% | $206,300 | $1,190 | $39,284 | $35,990 | 4.4% | no data | 0 | 13 | 0 | 24.4 | 24.5 | 7 | |
C E F | |
| 32 | Carlsbad, Calif. | 85,582 | 5,837 | 657 | 1.7% | -18.8% | $680,100 | $1,839 | $50,244 | $71,399 | 6.4% | 7.8% | 2 (Camp Pendleton) | 16 | 8 | 17.2 | 28 | 9 | |
C F | |
| 33 | Westminster, Colo. | 88,317 | 8,107 | 0 | 5.4% | 25.6% | $231,500 | $1,134 | $33,746 | $40,989 | 6% | 4.7% | 1 (Buckley AFB) | 11 | 3 | 31.4 | 27.2 | 5 | |
C T B E F L | |
| 34 | Renton, Wash. | 76,313 | 5,342 | 0 | 2.9% | 5.6% | $310,200 | $1,231 | $32,210 | $43,206 | 6.4% | 2.3% | 2 (Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton) | 11 | 7 | 55.6 | 29.9 | 7 | |
C E F | |
| 35 | Hampton, Va. | 102,372 | 17,411 | 4,777 | -0.5% | -4.7% | $188,900 | $1,032 | $26,309 | $37,772 | 9.7% | 8% | 9 (Langley AFB) | 5 | 6 | 35.1 | 22.3 | 4 | |
C T B F L | |
| 36 | Clarksville, Tenn. | 96,816 | 19,723 | 9,987 | 5.1% | 0.2% | $133,200 | $869 | $22,734 | $36,791 | 7.6% | 3.4% | 1 (Fort Campbell) | 11 | 1 | 36.3 | 22.2 | 8 | |
C F | |
| 37 | Fayetteville, N.C. | 136,147 | 28,564 | 19,543 | 4.3% | 1.5% | $124,800 | $865 | $24,345 | $42,522 | 9.9% | 8.4% | 2 (Fort Bragg) | 8 | 3 | 56.3 | 18.8 | 5 |  |
C T F | |
| 38 | Round Rock, Texas | 79,409 | 6,525 | 17 | 5.1% | 12.3% | $193,700 | $1,030 | $34,396 | $41,032 | 5.1% | 1.4% | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19.7 | 25.7 | 7 | |
F | |
| 39 | Norfolk, Va. | 174,696 | 28,635 | 20,836 | 1.5% | 6.6% | $190,000 | $950 | $23,188 | $36,193 | 8.9% | 5.8% | 10 (Naval Base Norfolk) | 6 | 6 | 44.4 | 22.3 | 4 | |
C T B F L | |
| 40 | Temecula, Calif. | 79,087 | 9,242 | 822 | 6.2% | 34.5% | $369,000 | $1,533 | $32,116 | $50,837 | 9.7% | 6.7% | 1 (Camp Pendleton) | 19 | 8 | 24.3 | 33.2 | 8 | |
F | |
| 41 | Cambridge, Mass. | 94,751 | 1,865 | 139 | 0.4% | 28.9% | $616,700 | $1,684 | $37,184 | $50,677 | 3.9% | no data | 2 (Hanscom AFB) | 24 | 4 | 26.9 | 25 | 6 | |
C E F | |
| 42 | Charleston, S.C. | 107,179 | 8,640 | 532 | 1.6% | -7.9% | $259,800 | $1,053 | $30,763 | $35,732 | 6.1% | 3.1% | 2 (Charleston AFB) | 6 | 1 | 24.9 | 23.2 | 7 | |
F | |
| 43 | Murrieta, Calif. | 75,398 | 7,768 | 1,033 | 1.5% | 4.4% | $350,300 | $1,502 | $31,083 | $47,846 | 11.6% | 15.4% | 2 (Camp Pendleton) | 17 | 9 | 14.1 | no data | 8 | |
F | |
| 44 | Boise, Idaho | 164,731 | 15,619 | 672 | -0.2% | -4.9% | $189,000 | $816 | $26,270 | $35,043 | 5.2% | 7.9% | 0 | 4 | 2 | 23.8 | 18.3 | 6 | |
F | |
| 45 | Tacoma, Wash. | 158,923 | 18,810 | 1,859 | 0.1% | -6.8% | $207,300 | $924 | $27,097 | $40,908 | 7.8% | 13.2% | 4 (McChord AFB) | 11 | 7 | no data | 27.1 | 4 | |
C F | |
| 46 | Boulder, Colo. | 91,156 | 3,170 | 0 | 3.1% | -15% | $530,000 | $1,218 | $26,135 | $48,750 | 7.1% | no data | 0 | 11 | 3 | 29 | 18.2 | 8 | |
C B E F L | |
| 47 | Peoria, Ariz. | 127,425 | 13,510 | 131 | 5.9% | 1.9% | $217,500 | $1,138 | $34,022 | $37,386 | 6.1% | 4.5% | 1 (Luke AFB) | 10 | 4 | 21.5 | 27.5 | 7 | |
F | |
| 48 | Huntsville, Ala. | 147,811 | 17,061 | 253 | 0.4% | 0.9% | $162,100 | $719 | $26,909 | $49,105 | 8.1% | 9.4% | 1 (Redstone Arsenal) | 3 | 1 | 56.1 | 18.1 | 7 | |
E F | |
| 49 | San Mateo, Calif. | 81,734 | 3,874 | 0 | -0.4% | -2.7% | $822,100 | $1,826 | $45,994 | $53,264 | 5.2% | no data | 0 | 21 | 2 | 21.3 | 25.9 | 8 | |
C B E F | |
| 50 | Glendale, Ariz. | 171,671 | 14,057 | 1,041 | 0.6% | -11% | $168,100 | $881 | $26,076 | $37,417 | 7% | 5.8% | 1 (Luke AFB) | 10 | 4 | 57 | 28 | 5 | |
C B F L | |
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