VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In advance of Veteran’s Day, Navy Federal Credit Union, in partnership with Sperling’s BestPlaces, released its Best Cities After Service list – a unique look at the places best suited for servicemembers to consider living after leaving the military. According to data from the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, approximately 250,000 military members transition out of the service each year.
The ranking was made by considering 11 metrics of veteran success and wellness, including veteran’s income, unemployment rates, proximity to VA hospitals and military bases, and then coupling it with a suite of quality of life measures, which include factors like affordability, the local economy, access to health resources, colleges and the arts, and more.
The top 10 cities are: (1) Oklahoma City, Okla. (2) Omaha, Neb. (3) Colorado Springs, Colo. (4) Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area (5) Grand Forks, N.D. (6) Austin, Texas (7) San Antonio, Texas (8) Charlottesville, Va. (9) Rapid City, S.D. (10) Manhattan, Kan.
“Right now, a number of factors make certain areas of the country ideal for veterans who are moving into civilian life,” said Robert Frick, corporate economist for Navy Federal. “The key factors are where the economic expansion is still going full throttle, which is creating new job and business opportunities for millions of Americans. Personal success is much easier when the economy around you is healthy, and a healthy economy is also a major factor in a better quality of life. Best Cities After Service helps veterans find these pockets of prosperity."
In February 2017, Navy Federal’s field of membership expanded to include veterans and their families; today, about a third of all Navy Federal members are active duty servicemembers and veterans. In continuing with the effort to make our members’ goals our mission, Navy Federal launched Best Cities After Service in order to make life’s biggest decisions simpler.
“Oklahoma City earns its top ranking with some of the strongest scores for both veteran-specific metrics and for overall quality of life measures,” said Bert Sperling, founder of Sperling’s BestPlaces. “OKC scored particularly well in the categories of high incomes and income growth for veterans, low unemployment among veterans and the number of veteran-owned businesses.”
About Navy Federal Credit Union: Navy Federal Credit Union is the world’s largest credit union, with more than $93 billion in assets, more than 8 million members, 322 branches and a workforce of over 17,000 employees worldwide. The credit union serves all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. For additional information about Navy Federal, visit navyfederal.org.
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