When it comes time to leave the military, service members face a decision they haven’t made in years: Where do I want to live? The military may ask your opinion or give you some options during your career, but this decision is all yours — and it can be overwhelming.

More than 200,000 service members leave the military annually, and so do about 1,300 military families daily. While the military is working to make this transition smoother, there is still a gap in support for transitioning to civilian life.

When military families consider where to live, several factors hold weight in the decision-making process. A top consideration for most families is their next career path. Whether the service member’s or the spouse’s career will be the priority, location is an important consideration. Families may also consider the climate, pace of life, living expenses, proximity to family and distance from a military installation or Department of Veterans Affairs care. Some families will stay in one place for the rest of their lives, and others will find they still enjoy exploring new places.

To help military families decide, Navy Federal Credit Union has partnered with Sperling’s BestPlaces to present the 2024 Best Cities After Service report. Navy Federal first created this list in 2018, compiling information from more than 400 cities based on quality-of-life metrics, including unemployment rates and average income. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, federal research and national surveys.

Sperling’s BestPlaces’ experience comparing cost of living, safety and home-buying experiences, combined with Navy Federal’s 90 years of knowledge of service members and their families, makes the partnership highly effective.

This year’s Best Cities After Service includes several sub-lists focusing on what service members and veterans find important. These lists give military families a wide range of options, including warm and cold climates, coastal and midwestern locations, big cities and small towns.

Sarasota, Florida, tops the list of the best cities to live in after military service, with Norwich, Connecticut; Derry, New Hampshire; Omaha, Nebraska; and Portland, Maine, rounding out the top five.

The top cities for retirees were selected based on family compatibility, cost of living and low crime rates. Again, Sarasota topped the list. Duluth, Minnesota, is also highly ranked, yet in a completely different climate. Duluth, which came in at No. 4, has a Chamber of Commerce with a dedicated Military Affairs Committee and boasts outdoor adventures for its snowy winters and mild summers.

Many military families wait to buy a home until after they leave the military, so this year, there was a list of the best places to buy a house. Tax prices, health resources, housing costs and climate contributed to putting Altoona, Pennsylvania, at the top of this list. Established by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849, Altoona is a little west of the state’s center, about two hours from Pittsburgh and Harrisburg. Two Texas cities also made this list: No. 2 Abilene and No. 4 El Paso.

For veterans looking to start their own business, No. 1 Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and No. 2 Johnson City, Tennessee, are two great options. Data regarding the growth potential of the local economy and resources for veterans pushed these two cities to the top. Johnson City has a musical history and is home to many young professionals. It’s also a short drive to several cities, including Knoxville and Gatlinburg.

Military families looking for a small-town feel will be pleased to see a list specifically for them. The five options range from upstate New York westward to Wisconsin and Minnesota. No. 5 Manhattan, Kansas, is also on the list if you’re looking for less snow. Glens Falls, New York, tops the list, thanks to its community, safety, recreation and affordability. Located near Lake George, Glens Falls has a rich Revolutionary War history and above-average schools.

Leaving the military to start your next chapter is challenging, but it’s also exciting. Each family has an idea of what they want in their next hometown, and with the research from Navy Federal and Sperling’s BestPlaces, these lists provide some great options. Whether it’s a small town in the mountains or a busy military city on the coast, your next hometown is waiting for you to discover it.

To see the full list of “Best Cities After Service” and more resources to support your transition, visit NavyFederal.org/bestcities.

Story Continues