The 10 best cities after service in 2024

By Miguel Ortiz

Published

Reviewed By Tessa Robinson

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A suburban house with a two-car garage open, showing moving boxes and furniture inside. Several large cardboard boxes are stacked on the driveway and lawn. Two movers are actively handling the boxes, one pushing a dolly with boxes and the other carrying a large wrapped item toward a moving truck parked on the street. The scene is set on a sunny day with a clear blue sky and some scattered clouds. Trees and neighboring houses line the street.
(U.S. Navy)

After leaving the military, it can be difficult to figure out where to go without having orders. Luckily, on October 29, 2024, Navy Federal Credit Union released its 2024 Best Cities After Service list. Conducted in partnership with Sperling’s BestPlaces, the report is designed to help service members, veterans, and their families discern the best places to settle down. Four hundred cities across the country were evaluated based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics including affordability, economic health, recreational opportunity, and, of course, veteran success and wellness. This last metric takes into account things like veteran income, community, businesses, and proximity to VA hospitals and military bases.

10. Rapid City, South Dakota

A snowy urban landscape at sunset with a street running through the center, lined with buildings covered in snow. In the foreground, there is an outdoor ice skating rink with people skating. Hills and mountains are visible in the background under a colorful sky with orange and yellow hues. A building on the left has a red neon sign that reads "HOTEL ALEX JOHNSON.
(Visit Rapid City)

Rapid City offers lots of options for both indoor and outdoor recreation. Nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base maintains a strong military/veteran community too.

9. Duluth, Minnesota

A man wearing sunglasses and a light blue shirt carries a smiling child on his shoulders near a waterfront. In the background, there is a large steel lift bridge and several people sitting on benches along the water. The sky is clear and sunny.
(Visit Duluth)

Situated on Lake Superior, Duluth is famously family-friendly. The Canal Park is a great spot to head outdoors and the Great Lakes Aquarium keeps residents and tourist alike coming back.

8. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

(Visit Oklahoma City)

The only capital city to make the Top 10, OKC offers plenty of business opportunities as well as recreation. Tinker Air Force Base provides military services like the commissary and Exchange, and planes from the base are no longer intentionally bombarding the city with sonic booms.

7. Sebastian, Florida

A curved sandy beach with scattered umbrellas and people, bordered by green vegetation and a parking area with cars. A body of water lies inside the curve of the beach, with boats creating wakes on the water. A bridge crosses over a wider waterway adjacent to the beach, connecting two land areas with dense greenery.
(VISIT FLORIDA)

At the confluence of two river and just two miles from the Atlantic Ocean, Sebastian is a small town with big outdoor opportunities. Nearby Orlando fulfills the big city requirements.

6. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sunny beach scene with a wide sandy shore lined with blue beach cabanas and umbrellas. People are scattered along the beach and near the water. A paved boardwalk with palm trees and benches runs parallel to the beach, with a grassy area and a bike path in the foreground. The sky is partly cloudy with bright sunlight.
(Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Virginia Beach offers classic oceanfront recreation and also hosts Naval Air Station Oceana. Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story helps to maintain a sizable military/veteran population too.

5. Portland, Maine

(Visit Portland)

Portland is famous for its fishing wharves and waterfront district. Today, converted warehouses host restaurants and shops that guarantee a good time.

4. Omaha, Nebraska

A nighttime city skyline with illuminated buildings, including a tall, brightly lit skyscraper in the center. In the foreground, a dark silhouette of a boat is on the water, and there are tents with lights on the shore. The sky is clear with a faint purple hue.
(Visit Nebraska)

Located on the Missouri River near the Nebraska-Iowa border, Omaha is a big city with a lot to offer between dining, recreation, and business. Offutt Air Force Base to the south also hosts Strategic Command.

3. Derry, New Hampshire

Outdoor market with multiple white and colored tents set up on a grassy area. People are walking and browsing the stalls. A large balloon sculpture resembling a carrot with eyes is visible near the center. Buildings and a partly cloudy sky are in the background.
(Destination Derry, NH)

A small town in a small state, Derry is a short drive to cities like Nashua and even Boston. The sleepy farming community was once the home of poet Robert Frost and Derry’s nickname of “Spacetown” is derived from its most famous native, Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

2. Norwich, Connecticut

A marina with numerous white boats docked along wooden piers, set against a backdrop of a small town with brick and residential buildings on a green hillside under a clear blue sky.
(City of Norwich)

Another small town, Norwich is a colonial town with multiple rivers that promoted its popularity. Multiple cities nearby provide access additional services, including Naval Submarine Base New London.

1. Sarasota, Florida

A coastal cityscape featuring a curved road lined with trees running alongside a body of water. The water is calm with a few small boats anchored near the shore. On the right side, there are numerous mid-rise and high-rise buildings, including residential and commercial structures. The area appears green and well-maintained with patches of grass and trees. The sky is clear with a light blue hue.
(Visit Sarasota)

Bringing Florida a second city in the Top 10, Sarasota offers a “just right” city to settle in. Gulf beaches, nearby states parks, and an international airport are just a few highlights. With MacDill Air Force Base up the road in Tampa hosting U.S. Special Operations Command and Central Command, military resources in the area won’t be going away anytime soon either.

Top 10 best cities for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life, ranked with state outlines and icons: 1) Sarasota, FL with a fish icon, 2) Norwich, CT with trees, 3) Derry, NH with a building, 4) Omaha, NE with corn, 5) Portland, ME with lobsters, 6) Virginia Beach, VA with crabs, 7) Sebastian, FL with flip-flops and sun, 8) Oklahoma City, OK with a cowboy hat, 9) Duluth, MN with a tower, 10) Rapid City, SD with Mount Rushmore. Navy Federal Credit Union branding is at the bottom.
(NFCU)

The report also included sub-lists of top five cities with more specific benefits. Some cities from the overall Top 10 list carried over to a sub-list, but new cities made appearances too. The best cities for retired veterans are: 1. Sarasota, FL; 2. Derry, NH; 3. Tampa, FL; 4. Duluth, MN; 5. Norwich, CT. Best cities for veterans to buy a house are ranked: 1. Altoona, PA; 2. Abilene, TX; 3. Muncie, IN; 4. El Paso, TX; 5. Mansfield, OH. For veterans looking to start a business, the report lists: 1. Coeur d’Alene, ID; 2. Johnson City, TN; 3. Bend, OR; 4. Logan, UT; 5. Wichita Falls, TX. Veterans wanting to settle in a small town should consider: 1. Glens Falls, NY; 2. Ames, IA; 3. Mankato, MN; 4. La Crosse, WI; 5. Manhattan, KS.

Miguel Ortiz Avatar

Miguel Ortiz

Senior Contributor, US Army Veteran

Miguel Ortiz graduated from San Diego State University and commissioned as an Army Officer in 2017. His passion for military culture and history led him to freelance writing. He specializes in interesting and obscure military history. When he’s not writing, Miguel enjoys traveling and watch collecting.

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