Veterans consider affordable housing and the quality of VA health centers the most critical factors in picking a place to live
For the third year in a row, San Antonio topped the list of the best cities for veteran homebuyers, according to a study from the Veterans United Home Loans.
San Antonio, with a veteran population of 107,359, has a median home price of $175,400. The metro also offers 14 VA health centers and five VA benefit centers.
Chris Birk, director of education at Veterans United Home Loans, emphasized the importance of affordable housing and access to VA health facilities to veterans and their families.
“Our research shows that finding affordable housing and having access to VA health facilities are very important to military families when choosing a place to live,” Birk said. “This study offers a glimpse into some of the basic needs that our veterans and service members see as imperative to their everyday living.”
The study compared and analyzed 100 most populated cities in the United States in terms of prime economic wellness, employment, availability of VA benefits, and quality of life for veterans. It found that the quality of VA health facilities was the most crucial for 75% of veterans.
Around 68% of the respondents considered affordable housing very important when choosing a place to live. Other key factors, including access to VA health facilities (67%), low unemployment rate (43%), job opportunities (42%), size of the veteran or military population (39%), and access to colleges or institutions approved for VA education benefits were also essential to veterans.
The top 10 best cities for veterans to live in 2020 were:
- San Antonio, Texas
- Lincoln, Neb.
- Arlington, Texas
- Raleigh, N.C.
- Oklahoma City, Okla.
- Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Boise City, Idaho
- Jacksonville, Fla.
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Columbus, Ohio
