Dallas ranks among best U.S. cities for military veterans to live

Dallas has just been declared the 25th best city for military veterans to live in America for 2025, according to a new study.

WalletHub's annual list of the "Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live" compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities based on 19 relevant metrics, such as veteran unemployment rates, veteran income growth, the quality of each city's VA health facilities, local housing affordability, quality of life, and more.

Austin topped the list for the second consecutive year. The U.S. cities that round out the top five best places for veterans are Tampa, Florida (No. 2); Madison, Wisconsin (No.3); Raleigh, North Carolina (No. 4); and Colorado Springs, Colorado (No. 5).

Dallas has maintained its rank as No. 25 for two years in a row.

Dallas received the following rankings across the four major categories in the report:

• No. 20 – Health
• No. 41 – Quality of life
• No. 44 – Economy
• No. 44 – Employment

(And that's not even getting into the generosity of many Dallas restaurants that are offering free meals and deals for veterans on Veterans Day Monday November 11.)

Elsewhere in North Texas, neighboring Fort Worth made a big leap this year to rank as the 10th best U.S. city for military veterans after previously ranking No. 20 in 2024.

Plano ranked just outside the top 10 as the No. 11 best U.S. city for military veterans to live. Other DFW-area cities that earned spots in the report include Garland (No. 30), Arlington (No. 31), and Irving (No. 39).

Irving received additional nods for having the 5th lowest percentage of its veteran population living in poverty, and it landed in a five-way tie for the lowest veteran unemployment rates nationwide with Fremont, California; Lincoln, Nebraska; Chesapeake, Virginia; and Greensboro, North Carolina.

The report also found Garland boasts the 5th highest veteran income growth in the country.

Austin claims No. 1 nationally for the second time
The report said Austin remained at the top of the list for a second consecutive year because it offers the best colleges and universities for veterans nationwide, 10th highest median annual income for veterans (about $62,000), and the 7th best job growth rate nationally.

"In addition, Austin is great for going out to eat or enjoying entertainment as a veteran," the report's author wrote. "The city has the 12th-highest number of restaurants and the 10th-most arts/entertainment establishments per capita that offer military discounts."

Most importantly, WalletHub says Austin is the perfect fit for former military members who want to find community with other veterans who have had similar experiences during their time in the armed forces.

"Austin has the third-smallest projected decrease in veterans between 2024 and 2053, so that will certainly help veterans meet each other and forge friendships," the report said.

High-ranking cities for veterans in Texas
Other Texas cities that earned spots in the top 50 include Laredo (No. 32), San Antonio (No. 34), and Lubbock (No. 46).

Only three Texas cities lagged behind in the report: Houston (No. 59), El Paso (No. 67), and Corpus Christi (No. 74).

Earlier this year, WalletHub ranked Texas as the No. 21 best state for military retirees in 2025.

The top 10 best U.S. cities for veterans to live are:

• No. 1– Austin, Texas
• No. 2 – Tampa, Florida
• No. 3 – Madison, Wisconsin
• No. 4 – Raleigh, North Carolina
• No. 5 – Colorado Springs, Colorado
• No. 6 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
• No. 7 – Orlando, Florida
• No. 8 – St. Petersburg, Florida
• No. 9 – Irvine, California
• No. 10 – Fort Worth, Texas

At the opposite end of the list, Newark, New Jersey ranked as the worst place for veterans to live in 2025 for another year in a row. Detroit, Michigan (No. 99); Baton Rouge, Louisiana (No. 98), Memphis, Tennessee (No. 97); and Toledo, Ohio (No. 96) all ranked among the bottom five.