As America celebrates Veterans Day Tuesday, three Florida cities are being recognized for their commitment to former military personnel. WalletHub, a personal finance advisory company, completed an analysis of the 100 largest cities across the U.S. and ranked the best places to be a military veteran. The study showed that Tampa, Orlando, and St. Petersburg are among the 10 best cities in the country for former military personnel.
To compile its list, WalletHub analysts measured 19 key factors, including affordability, livability, and veteran friendliness. Tampa placed second, with the analysis giving the city a veterans score of 67.45. Orlando came in seventh with a score of 65.97, immediately followed by St. Petersburg in eighth with 65.34.
Florida had more cities ranked in the top 10 than any other state. Additionally, the Sunshine State had five cities ranked in the top 20, as Miami placed 13th and Jacksonville finished 18th. This is also more top 20 locales than any other state.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo emphasized the importance of the list for those who served in the military. “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. The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, along with many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts,” Lupo said.
Tampa earned its high ranking due to providing veterans with a fair shot at making a decent living. “The median annual income for veterans grows by an average of over 6% per year, the 24th-highest percentage in the country. The current median income is also decent, at around $53,000, which ranks 38th out of the 100 most populous cities,” the analysis concluded.
Furthermore, Tampa has the 29th-highest number of arts and entertainment establishments that offer military discounts per capita, as well as the eighth-highest number of restaurants offering discounts. This shows the community’s appreciation for those who have served.
The study also found that Tampa has the sixth-most Veterans Administration benefits facilities per capita in the country, and its medical facilities were ranked the second-best in the U.S.
The top city for veterans is Austin, Texas, according to WalletHub. On the other end of the spectrum, Newark, New Jersey, was rated the lowest at No. 100. Detroit placed 99th, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was ranked No. 98.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/763597-wallethub-tampa-orlando-st-pete-among-top-10-cities-for-military-vets/
