Overview
- WalletHub’s 2025 report places Austin first and Tampa second, followed by Madison, Raleigh and Colorado Springs in the top five.
- Tampa’s showing reflects abundant support services, including the sixth-most VA benefits facilities per capita and the third-most VA health facilities per capita, with local VA medical facilities rated second-best nationally.
- The city also ranks high for military discounts, with the eighth-highest share of restaurants and the 29th-highest share of arts and entertainment venues offering deals.
- WalletHub notes Tampa’s median annual veteran income at $53,000 with average yearly growth above 6%, ranking 38th for income among the 100 cities analyzed.
- The study benchmarks cities on employment, economy, quality of life and health; Newark ranks last overall, and WalletHub cites wider context of 17.6 million U.S. veterans, 3.1% veteran unemployment and roughly 33,000 homeless veterans.