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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.