Top of the List

San Antonio ranks among best places to live in 2017, says new report

San Antonio downtown skyline skyscrapers

San Antonians have it made.

It doesn't get better than San Antonio. In fact, Alamo City ranks in the top 25 on U.S. News & World Report's 2017 list of the 100 Best Places to Live. The publisher took the 100 most populous metros in the country and ranked them in five main factors: job market, value, quality of life, desirability, and net migration.

Quality of life, given the most weight, encompasses everything from healthcare to commute. San Antonio, which ranks No. 23 on the list, dominates with its ability to offer "big-city amenities and world-renowned attractions coupled with a relaxed and inviting atmosphere."

Value was calculated by the median household income compared to cost of living, which is pretty great here. The median home price is $178,408 — much lower than the national average of $211,731, and renters spend about $1,000 per month on average.

On top of that, U.S. News & World Report points out that "San Antonio residents pay slightly less for everyday expenses, such as food and healthcare, than those who live in other metro areas." Plus, the local job market is flourishing with a 3.7 percent unemployment rate and a median annual salary of $43,740.

San Antonio's desirability, determined by a Google Consumer Survey, is also pretty high. Not only do people want to live here, they're actually making the move. According to a previous report from U.S. News & World Report, San Antonio is the most popular places in the nation. With a net migration of 5.36 percent, our population increased to nearly 2.3 million between 2010-2014.

San Antonio isn't the only shining spot in the Lone Star State. Austin leads the list at No. 1, with Dallas-Fort Worth (No. 15) and Houston (No. 20) close behind. Coming in just behind Austin are Denver; San Jose, California; Washington; and Fayetteville, Arkansas.

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High ranking

San Antonio gets surprising score in study of best cities for veterans

United States Military Veterans Parade Association, 2023 San Antonio Veterans Day Parade

United States Military Veterans Parade Association/Facebook

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A new analysis by personal finance website WalletHub has declared Military City itself, San Antonio, as the 28th best American city for veterans in 2024.

The report, "Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live (2024)," ranked 100 of the most populous U.S. cities based on 19 factors, such as veteran unemployment rates, veteran income growth, each city's housing affordability, quality of life, and more.

The top five best cities for veterans to live in 2024 are Austin, Texas (No. 1), Orlando, Florida (No. 2), Raleigh, North Carolina (No. 3), Tampa, Florida (No. 4), and Virginia Beach, Virginia (No. 5).

San Antonio's veteran-friendliness, economy, and quality of life led to a score of 58.11 points out of a possible 100. The top third of the list is nothing to scoff at, but for a city with such a strong connection to the military, it is at least a bit surprising.

Out of all four major categories in the report — employment, economy, quality of life, and health — San Antonio ranked the highest for its economy (No. 19). The city earned a respectable ranking of No. 30 for the national "quality of life" category, but fell behind in the "health" (No. 48) and "employment" (No. 72) categories.

One of the most important factors that veterans often consider before settling down in a new city is whether there's a large veteran community, according to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

"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," said Lupo. "The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts."

Austin is the best city in the U.S. for veterans to live
Austin is no stranger to the WalletHub list, having ranked near the top for several years previously. WalletHub's experts said the Texas Capital claimed the overall No. 1 spot because of its high-quality universities and income potential for veterans. The city has the ninth-highest median annual veteran income (amounting to more than $59,000), and the fourth-best job growth rate nationwide.

"It’s also good for veterans to live in a place where they can form a community of support with others who have gone through similar experiences," the report's author wrote. "Austin has the second-largest projected increase in veterans between 2023 and 2050, so that will certainly help veterans meet each other and forge friendships."

The report also mentioned that Austin boasts the 11th highest number of restaurants and attractions per capita that specifically offer military discounts, making the city a remarkable place "for going out to eat or enjoying entertainment as a veteran."

Elsewhere in Texas
Austin was the only Texas city to make it into the top 10, with Laredo coming close by ranking 12th out of all 100 cities analyzed. Meanwhile, San Antonio was sandwiched between the North Texas cities of Dallas (No. 25) and Garland (No. 33).

Other Texas cities that earned spots in the top 50 include:

No. 20 – Fort Worth
No. 22 – Plano
No. 34 – Irving
No. 38 – Arlington
No. 39 – Lubbock
No. 50 – Corpus Christi

Even though a majority of Texas cities in the report landed among the top 50 best places for veterans to live, WalletHub placed Texas 28th in its 2024 study that ranked the "Best & Worst States for Military Retirees".

Nationally, Florida had the highest concentration of cities that were deemed the best places for veterans to live in 2024, with St. Petersburg (No. 9) and Jacksonville (No. 10) rounding out the top 10.

At the opposite end of the study, Newark, New Jersey (No. 100) was declared the worst city for veterans to live. Newark is joined by Detroit, Michigan (No. 99), Memphis, Tennessee (No. 98), Baton Rouge, Louisiana (No. 97), and Indianapolis, Indiana (No. 96) in the bottom five.

The top 10 best cities for veterans to live are:

No. 1 – Austin, Texas
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Raleigh, North Carolina
No. 4 – Tampa, Florida
No. 5 – Virginia Beach, Virginia
No. 6 – Irvine, California
No. 7 – Scottsdale, Arizona
No. 8 – Madison, Wisconsin
No. 9 – St. Petersburg, Florida
No. 10 – Jacksonville, Florida

The full report and its methodology can be found on wallethub.com.

rankings report veterans wallethub san antonio