St. Louis metro area is eighth best region for veterans

May 18, 2026 46 2

ST. LOUIS — The Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area was recently revealed as the eighth best metro area for veterans, service members, and military families to live in.

These findings were revealed on Monday by Veterans United Home Loans as a part of its 2026 Best Places for Veterans to Live list.

St. Louis’ selection is in contrast to the domination by the metropolitan areas in the Sun Belt. That is simply due to states like Florida and Texas with their large military and veteran populations, with affordable living, strong job markets, quality healthcare access, and proximity to major military installations.

More information is available in the press release below.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (PRNewswire) — Veterans United Home Loans today released its 2026 Best Places for Veterans to Live list, ranking the top metro areas for veterans, service members, and military families. The list is dominated by fast-growing Sun Belt metros, including three in Florida and two in Texas, that pair large military and veteran populations with affordable living, strong job markets, quality healthcare access, and proximity to major military installations.

The Top 10 metros for Veterans and service members are:

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, Va.-N.C.
San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas
Jacksonville, Fla.
Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla.
Oklahoma City
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas
St. Louis, Mo.-Ill.
Salt Lake City-Murray, Utah
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

Rationale for the 2026 list

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.

Virginia Beach, San Antonio, and Jacksonville, Fla., rose to the top of this year’s list, ranking high for established veteran support networks, access to VA care, and relatively attainable housing compared with many major markets, along with state-level tax benefits for veterans. 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.

“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 prices alone, ” said Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United. “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. 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.”

What makes a metro the best place to live for veterans?

Lower cost of living

Affordability remained one of the biggest factors shaping this year’s rankings, especially for Veterans and military families looking to maximize long-term buying power with a VA loan. Among the top 10 large metros, St. Louis offered the lowest median listing price at $237,500, followed by Oklahoma City at $318,450 and San Antonio at $323,950. Jacksonville ($385,000) and Tampa ($400,000) also remained relatively attainable compared with many other major metros, helping balance strong Veteran support networks with more manageable housing costs.

On the higher end of the market, Salt Lake City had the highest median listing price among the top-ranked large metros at $565,500, followed by Nashville at $529,000. Austin ($470,000) and Dallas ($420,000) also ranked among the more expensive markets on the list. While these metros performed well thanks to factors like healthcare access, economic opportunity, and overall quality of life, higher housing costs may present additional challenges for Veterans looking to purchase a home.

Across the Top 10, many of the highest-ranked metros shared financial advantages that can help create a more stable path to homeownership and long-term financial security for veterans. States like Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma strengthened their appeal through policies such as no state income tax, no taxes on military retirement income, and property tax exemptions for qualifying disabled veterans.

More than a place to live

Beyond affordability and support networks, this year’s top-ranked metros also stood out for the lifestyles and opportunities they offer outside of work and military life. Coastal destinations like Tampa and Jacksonville paired waterfront living with beaches, boating, and year-round outdoor recreation, while Nashville attracted veterans with its nationally known music scene, healthcare access, and growing cultural footprint.

Several metros also distinguished themselves through career opportunities and access to the outdoors. Austin ranks high for veterans with its expanding tech sector, live music culture, and active lifestyle centered around trails, lakes, and parks. Salt Lake City stood out for its strong healthcare infrastructure and immediate access to hiking, skiing, and mountain recreation, making it especially appealing for veterans prioritizing outdoor living and year-round activity.

Other top-ranked metros offered a balance of entertainment, culture, and everyday livability. Coastal destinations like Virginia Beach, Jacksonville, and Tampa combined veteran-friendly infrastructure with beaches, waterfront recreation, and access to entertainment and dining.

Built-in veteran communities

For many veterans, finding a place with an established military presence and a strong support network can make the transition into civilian life feel more familiar and connected. 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.

Virginia Beach, San Antonio, and Jacksonville all ranked high because of their large veteran populations, proximity to major military installations, and access to Veteran-focused services. Dallas had the largest veteran population among the Top 10, with 325,572 Veterans, while Tampa and San Antonio also ranked among the largest veteran communities.

Across the Top 10, many of the highest-ranked metros shared a common thread: established military ties that help veterans stay connected through local support networks, VA healthcare access, and communities where military service remains part of everyday life. Whether anchored by Naval Station Norfolk, Joint Base San Antonio, MacDill Air Force Base, or Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, these metros continue to stand out for veterans looking for familiarity, support, and long-term stability after service.

In addition to the Top metros list, Veterans United also ranked the best Small and Midsize markets to give veterans more options when considering a move to a smaller community.

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

Veterans United Home Loans, a full-service national direct lender based in Columbia, Missouri, closed more than $26 billion in loans in fiscal 2025 and was the nation’s No. 1 VA purchase lender, according to 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). Private lender. Not endorsed or sponsored by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. Licensed in all 50 states. Military advisors are paid employees of Veterans United. For State Licensing information, please visit www.veteransunited.com/licenses. Equal Housing Opportunity

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PR Newswire - Missouri Bureau

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PR Newswire is a distributor of press releases headquartered in Chicago. The service was created in 1954 to allow companies to electronically send press releases to news organizations. Stories from the Missouri Bureau relate to business entities based in Eastern Missouri, including the Missouri side of the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

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St. Louis metro area is eighth best region for veterans

Rationale for the 2026 list

What makes a metro the best place to live for veterans?

Lower cost of living

More than a place to live

Built-in veteran communities

About Veterans United Home Loans

HLNF Staff Report

PR Newswire - Missouri Bureau

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