Adjusting from the military to everyday civilian life can be difficult for veterans and their families. From desirable jobs to quality healthcare providers, many factors play into finding the perfect city for veterans seeking an area to seamlessly transition from their current lifestyle.
In a recent study by Coworking Café, Atlanta ranked number 14 on the list of top 15 cities for veterans and their families. The list was developed by measuring major cities using metrics such as the percentage of veterans among the total population, the number of veteran-owned businesses, their employment status and income, the number of veteran health care providers in the area, as well as the air quality, green spaces and educational institutions.
Nationally, Virginia holds four spots in the top five best cities for veterans with Chesapeake ranking number one – followed by New York, New York, Arlington, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Virginia and Norfolk, Virginia.
Ranking 14th overall, Atlanta sits at number three for veteran-owned businesses with 10,177 businesses. The eclectic city also ranks 4th for the number of coworking spaces, with a total of 108 within the metro area.
Below is the full list of the Top 15 Cities for Veterans and their Families:
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- New York, New York
- Arlington, Virginia
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Norfolk, Virginia
- Washington, DC
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- St. Petersburg, Florida
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Chula Vista, California
- Tampa, Florida
- Seattle, Washington
- Chicago, Illinois
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Los Angeles, California
For additional information on the Top 15 Cities for Veterans and their Families list, visit www.CoworkingCafe.com/blog/americas-best-cities-for-veterans/.
In addition, the Georgia Department of Veterans Service states there are 699,322 veterans residing in Georgia as of November 2023.
Georgia is home to the fifth largest military population in the country, with over 101,000 military retirees currently living in the state. The state is also home to two Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and two state veterans nursing homes.
Georgia recognizes the inherent value veterans bring to the community and is actively encouraging even more veterans to remain living and working in communities across the state through smart policy measures, such as the first military retirement income tax exemption in state history.
Georgia offers personal assistance to veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors relating to veteran benefits via GDVS Veterans Field Service Offices.
Vetlanta is a club for veteran social and business networking with a mission of making Atlanta the premier community in the country for veterans and their families to live and work in.
Mental health counseling services are available from Catholic Charities Atlanta for veterans and their families.