Austin tops list of best U.S. cities for veterans
WalletHub data shows Austin leads for education and jobs, even as over 32,000 veterans face homelessness and 26,000 pay higher mortgages after a VA program ended.
By Isaac Medina ·
Austin, Texas, ranked as the top U.S. city for veterans in a new analysis by personal finance website WalletHub. The Texas capital secured the first position based on its educational resources and employment landscape for former service members. The ranking placed Austin ahead of Madison, Wisconsin, and Scottsdale, Arizona, in the top three spots.
The evaluation covered the 100 most populous U.S. cities using 19 specific measures. WalletHub grouped these metrics into four categories: employment, economy, quality of life, and health. The analysis looked at the availability of jobs that match military skills, median income for veterans, veteran unemployment rates, homelessness statistics, and access to Veterans Affairs health facilities.
Austin’s primary advantage lies in its institutions of higher learning that serve veterans. The city also ranked seventh for job growth. Veterans living in Austin report a median annual income exceeding $66,000, which places them ninth in that category among the cities evaluated.
Madison, Wisconsin, held the second position. Veterans in that city experience an average annual median income growth of approximately 8%, the sixth-highest percentage in the nation. Madison also recorded one of the lowest rates of veteran homelessness, with two homeless individuals for every 1,000 veterans in the area.
Scottsdale, Arizona, finished third in the ranking. The median annual income for veterans there is about $68,000, the sixth-highest figure in the study. The city ranked seventh for its low unemployment rate and third for having the fewest homeless veterans relative to its veteran population.
Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in a statement, "When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health." Lupo added that the best cities offer community support through large veteran populations and venues providing veteran discounts.
The data, collected as of Oct. 5, 2026, comes from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The analysis indicates that veterans currently have a relatively low unemployment rate of 3.6%, compared with 4.2% for the overall population.
Despite these employment figures, housing stability remains a concern. More than 32,000 veterans are currently experiencing homelessness. A separate report found that over 26,000 veterans face higher monthly mortgage payments. Many of these individuals see monthly increases of $1,000 or more.
The increase in costs followed the Trump administration’s elimination of the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase, or VASP, program. This initiative previously helped veterans behind on VA-backed home loan payments by moving missed payments onto a new mortgage with a 2.5% interest rate. Current average interest rates hover around 7%.
Plano, Texas, and Fort Worth, Texas, rounded out the top five cities for veterans. The full report details the performance of the other 95 cities in the study.
