New study ranks Myrtle Beach, S.C., Atlantic City, N.J., and Lawrence, Kan. among top destinations for Veterans and military families
COLUMBIA, Mo., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Veterans United Home Loans, the nation’s largest VA lender, released its 2025 Best Cities for Veterans to Live list today. While Midwest metros continue to offer affordability and access, this year’s rankings show a noticeable rise in appeal along the coasts.
The Top 10 overall markets for Veterans and service members are: Myrtle Beach–Conway–North Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Atlantic City–Hammonton, N.J.; Lawrence, Kan.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Battle Creek, Mich.; Decatur, Ill.; Cleveland, Ohio; Altoona, Pa.; Rapid City, S.D.; and Lawton, Okla.
“Our latest analysis is grounded in what Veterans told us matters most, from affordability and health care to community connection and quality of life,” said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United Home Loans. “This year’s top cities reflect a growing interest in coastal living, but they also offer the stability, support and opportunity that Veterans and their families need to build their next chapter.”
Each quarter, Veterans United surveys Veterans to learn which factors are most important to them when deciding where to live. The Best Cities to Live list analyzes more than 500 metropolitan markets based on 23 factors, including cost of living, housing affordability, quality of life and a strong Veteran community, which all rank high among Veterans.
Cost of living: Affordability continues to be a driving factor for Veterans when deciding where to live. Veterans United measured the cost of living using a composite score, where a higher score indicates a lower cost of living. With a composite score of 192, Decatur, Ill., was the most affordable among the Top 10 cities, followed closely by Lawton, Okla. (180.59), and Lawrence, Kan. (174.71). On the higher-cost end, Altoona, Pa. (158.13), ranked as the most expensive city in the Top 10.
Median home price: For many Veterans, buying a home is a major milestone when transitioning to civilian life. Among this year’s Top 10, Decatur, Ill., had the lowest median home price at $142,500, followed closely by Altoona, Pa. ($149,900), and Lawton, Okla. ($190,000). Battle Creek, Mich. ($235,000), and Cleveland, Ohio ($249,000), also fell below the national median home price of $403,700, according to the National Association of Realtors. Among the Top 10, Atlantic City–Hammonton, N.J. had the highest median home price at $550,000.
Quality of life: To determine what makes a good place to live, Veterans United looked at a combination of highly rated quality of life factors for Veterans, such as local air quality, proximity to essentials like grocery stores, and local amenities, including outdoor activities and restaurants. Atlantic City–Hammonton, N.J., led all Top 10 cities with a quality of life score of 310.81. Atlantic City is known for its historic boardwalk and vibrant beach culture but also provides strong community support, robust amenities and a Veteran-friendly policy landscape.
Veteran Community: Veterans often seek communities where they feel connected and supported. To assess the strength of local Veteran communities, Veterans United examined population data, access to services and state-level benefits. Battle Creek, Mich., led all Top 10 cities with a Veteran community score of 165.00. With a large and growing Veteran population, a major VA Medical Center, proximity to Fort Custer Training Center, and a strong network of events and support programs, Battle Creek stands out as a hub for military-connected residents.
Veterans United Best Cities for Veterans to Live
|
Rank |
Metro |
Cost of Living |
Median Home Price ** |
Quality of Life |
Veteran Community |
Total |
|
1 |
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, S.C |
167.04 |
$324,900 |
286.37 |
131.85 |
845.21 |
|
2 |
Atlantic City-Hammonton, N.J. |
163.12 |
$550,000 |
310.81 |
132.71 |
844.61 |
|
3 |
Lawrence, Kan. |
174.71 |
$422,500 |
250.63 |
96.89 |
842.28 |
|
4 |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
170.79 |
$381,064 |
253.94 |
102.03 |
828.07 |
|
5 |
Battle Creek, Mich. |
170.43 |
$235,000 |
188.38 |
165.00 |
827.16 |
|
6 |
Decatur, Ill. |
192.00 |
$142,500 |
230.67 |
101.03 |
825.32 |
|
7 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
170.07 |
$249,000 |
260.00 |
105.25 |
820.14 |
|
8 |
Altoona, Pa. |
158.13 |
$149,900 |
254.62 |
113.91 |
816.39 |
|
9 |
Rapid City, S.D. |
165.62 |
$429,900 |
242.15 |
140.60 |
814.63 |
|
10 |
Lawton, Okla. |
180.59 |
$190,000 |
207.01 |
137.68 |
812.84 |
*Scores were weighted to reflect the importance of each factor to Veterans. Higher scores indicate a greater contribution to the composite score. Some shown metrics, such as ‘Quality of Life Score,’ are a combination of multiple variables.
** Median home prices sourced from Realtor.com.
To view the complete list of cities and methodology, visit https://www.veteransunited.com/education/best-cities-for-veteran-homebuyers/
About Veterans United Home Loans
Based in Columbia, Missouri, the full-service national direct lender financed more than $22.7 billion in loans in Fiscal Year 2024 and is the country’s largest VA lender, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs Lender Statistics. The company’s mission is to help Veterans and service members take advantage of the home loan benefits earned by their service.
VeteransUnited.com | 1-800-884-5560 | 550 Veterans United Drive, Columbia, MO 65201 | Veterans United Home Loans NMLS # 1907 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). A VA approved lender; Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Licensed in all 50 states. For State Licensing information, please visit https://www.veteransunited.com/licenses/. Equal Opportunity Lender.
SOURCE Veterans United Home Loans
