Sarasota, FL tops the list of cities; Report includes locations for retired Veterans, small business owners, homebuyers and best small towns.

Navy Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Sperling’s BestPlaces, released its 2024 Best Cities After Service list—a report designed to help military servicemembers, Veterans and their families make a smooth transition to civilian life by evaluating the pros and cons of US cities where they may consider settling down. From coastal and midwestern locations, to warm and cold climates and big cities and small towns, the Best Cities After Service report has options for everyone.

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Navy Federal Credit Union and Sperling's BestPlaces evaluated and ranked over 400 cities across the United States based on various quality of life metrics.

More than 200,000 servicemembers transition out of Active Duty each year. Research shows that Veterans face hurdles achieving their own financial goals due to high costs of living, inflation and housing burdens. At the same time, financial opportunities motivate many Veterans to use the skills they developed during service to start their own businesses, pursue their passions, and earn a comfortable living in the long term.

“When you leave military service, finding a home, starting a new career and making a financial plan are daunting steps,” said Clay Stackhouse, a retired Marine Corps colonel and regional outreach manager at Navy Federal. “This unique population of individuals has diverse needs, so it’s more important than ever for us to provide tools and resources that support them through all aspects of the transition to the civilian world.”

Navy Federal, which serves over 2 million Veteran members, worked with Sperling’s BestPlaces to evaluate and rank 400 cities across the United States based on a suite of aggregate quality-of-life measures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, such as:

• Veteran success and wellness (i.e. community of Veterans, Veteran income, Veteran-owned businesses, proximity to VA hospitals and military bases to serve as resources)
• Affordability (i.e. taxes, housing costs)
• Economic health (i.e. unemployment, income change, house appreciation)
• Climate, environmental health (i.e. healthy air and water), and national hazard risk
• Recreational opportunity (i.e. trails, sports, zoos, aquariums) and proximity to amenities, arts and culture
• Crime rate
• Community diversity and population change
• Proximity to airport
• Quality of schools
• Health resources

“More than ever, choosing the right place to live can be the springboard for success and happiness,” said Bert Sperling, founder and CEO of Sperling's BestPlaces. “Tailored for Veterans and their families, these rankings are an important resource in finding a new place to call home.”

Top 10 Best Cities After Service:

1. Sarasota, FL
2. Norwich, CT
3. Derry, NH
4. Omaha, NE
5. Portland, ME
6. Virginia Beach, VA
7. Sebastian, FL
8. Oklahoma City, OK
9. Duluth, MN
10. Rapid City, SD

Best Cities for Retired Veterans:

1. Sarasota, FL
2. Derry, NH
3. Tampa, FL
4. Duluth, MN
5. Norwich, CT

Best Cities for Veterans to Buy a House:

1. Altoona, PA
2. Abilene, TX
3. Muncie, IN
4. El Paso, TX
5. Mansfield, OH

Best Cities for Veterans to Start a Business:

1. Coeur d'Alene, ID
2. Johnson City, TN
3. Bend, OR
4. Logan, UT
5. Wichita Falls, TX

Best Small Towns for Veterans:

1. Glens Falls, NY
2. Ames, IA
3. Mankato, MN
4. La Crosse, WI
5. Manhattan, KS

The credit union published its original Best Cities After Service list in 2018, followed by an expanded version in 2022 that explored cities for retirement, homebuying and military families. This year’s continued expansion to include top cities for Veteran entrepreneurs and best small towns demonstrates Navy Federal’s commitment to listening to the needs of the military community and tailoring its support initiatives. For more resources on the transition to civilian life, visit www.navyfederal.org/militarylife.

In honor of Veterans Day, Navy Federal is also donating to The Mission Continues, which aims to empower Veterans to apply their skills and leadership abilities in serving their communities. The donation will benefit the nonprofit’s National Service Platoon Program. More details on Navy Federal’s celebrations for Veterans Day can be found at navyfederal.org/veterans.

Navy Federal Credit Union: Established in 1933 with only seven members, Navy Federal now has the distinct honor of serving 14 million members globally and is the world’s largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always puts the financial needs of its members first. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, Veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. Dedicated to its mission of service, Navy Federal employs a workforce of over 24,000 and has a global network of 360 branches. For more information about Navy Federal Credit Union, visit navyfederal.org. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Survey Methodology: Navy Federal worked with Sperling's BestPlaces to evaluate and rank more than 400 U.S. cities and towns across the country based on a variety of quality-of-life metrics (Veteran community, cost of living, etc.). Using these findings, Navy Federal and Sperling’s BestPlaces determined which cities best meet the needs of Veterans overall, and then specific to those looking to start a small business, retire from the workforce, buy a home and prefer living in small towns.

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