Top 10 Worst Cities For Veterans

Words by Wes O’Donnell, Managing Editor, InMilitary

Veterans from all eras face unique challenges when looking for a place to call home. Some are dealing with severe physical injuries; others, psychological. The best spots for veterans tend to have easy access to veteran-focused health care, a good selection of veteran-friendly employers and, most importantly, a low cost of living or at least affordable housing.

The personal finance website WalletHub has rated 100 cities from best to worst for veterans (you can see the full report here) and we’ve listed the worst for you below. So what makes a city the “best” or “worst” for veterans? WalletHub used the following criteria:

Economic Wellness – Total Weight: 5

Percentage of military skill-related Jobs: full weight
Veteran unemployment rate (ratio of unemployed veterans to total unemployed population): full weight
Rate of job growth (2008–2013): full weight
Rate of veteran wage growth (2008–2013): full weight
Veteran-owned businesses per veteran population: half weight
Housing affordability: full weight
Cost of living Index: full weight
Percentage of veterans living below the poverty line: full weight
Number of homeless veterans per veteran population: full weight

Environment, Education & Health – Total Weight: 5

Veteran population (number of veterans per capita): full weight
Number of VA benefits administration facilities per veteran population: half weight
Educational opportunities (“Best Colleges for Veterans” ranking): half weight
“Best & Worst Cities for Recreation” ranking (WalletHub Study): half weight
“Cities with the Best & Worst Weather” ranking (WalletHub Study): half weight
Crime rate: half weight
Number of VA health facilities per veteran population: half weight
“Patients’ willingness to recommend the veteran hospitals” score (used as a proxy for the quality of VA health facilities): half weight
Percentage of hospital appointments scheduled over 30 days (used as a proxy for the quality of the VA health facilities): half weight
“Emotional health” ranking: full weight

Read on to find out if your city made the list!