For veterans and military families, choosing where to establish roots can be a major decision and quite life-changing. When the time comes for active duty service members to return to civilian life, they may experience additional stress due to attemtping to navigate the complex U.S. housing market.
The top metro areas for veterans, active duty members, and military families were ranked in Veterans United Home Loans’ 2026 Best Places for Veterans to Live list. The list is dominated by rapidly expanding Sun Belt metropolitan areas, such as three in Florida and two in Texas, which combine sizable military and veteran populations with reasonably priced housing, robust employment markets, access to high-quality healthcare, and close proximity to military facilities.
This year, Virginia Beach, VA, San Antonio, and Jacksonville, FL, topped the list due to their well-established veteran support networks, availability to VA treatment, reasonably priced housing as compared to many big markets, and state-level tax incentives for veterans. Additionally, each is notable for its lifestyle appeal, which combines outdoor recreation or seaside access with robust local economies and a variety of career options for veterans and military families.
“As a military family stationed in Virginia Beach for 15 years, we’ve seen firsthand what makes this area so special. With one of the largest military communities in the U.S., it offers a strong sense of connection and support,” said Christy Powell, a real estate agent at Iron Valley Real Estate in Virginia Beach, VA. “From excellent schools and safe neighborhoods to year-round festivals, beaches and spots like Mount Trashmore Park, there’s always something to do. With its affordability, mild climate and diverse lifestyle options, Virginia Beach truly offers something for all ages, making it a great place to raise a family or enjoy life after military service.”…