Fast-growing Sun Belt metros top the list of Veterans United Home Loans 2026 Best Places for Veterans to Live.
Released on May 18, the list taps the Virginia Beach, Virginia-North Carolina area as the best place for veterans, service members and military families to live.
“Choosing where to put down roots is one of the biggest decisions veterans and military families make after service, and this year’s list shows how important it is to look beyond home alone, " said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United
Rounding out the top five spots are San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida.
To compile this year’s list, Veterans United analyzed 23 different factors, including those cited as most important to veterans based on a recent survey, across the 50 most populous metro areas. Each also stands out for lifestyle appeal, blending coastal access or outdoor recreation with strong local economies and diverse employment opportunities for veterans and military families.
“The top metros for 2026 stand out because they combine affordability, strong veteran communities, access to care, employment opportunity and the kind of quality of life that can support long-term stability,” added Birk. “Places like Virginia Beach, San Antonio and Jacksonville reflect what many veterans are looking for – communities where military service is understood, support networks are already in place and homeownership can feel more attainable.”
The cities pair large military and veteran populations with affordable living, strong job markets, quality healthcare access and proximity to major military installations, according to Veterans United.
Many of this year’s top-ranked metros stood out because military service remains deeply woven into the identity of the community, helping veterans stay connected to resources, healthcare and other former service members, Veterans United Home Loans said.
Rounding out the list’s top 10 are Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri, Illinois; Salt Lake City-Murray, Utah; and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
