This Florida City Was Just Named the Best Place for Veterans to Live in the U.S.

Members of the U.S. military have big decisions they need to make when they complete their service. Namely, where they want to live in their military retirement. Luckily, each year, Veterans United Home Loans, the largest VA lender in the U.S., compiles its Best Cities for Veterans to Live list, and on Monday, shared its list for 2025. 

To figure out the top spots for veterans in the U.S., the website conducts a survey every quarter of veterans to learn which factors are the most important to them when picking a place to live. Then, it analyzes more than 500 metropolitan markets on 23 factors, including cost of living, housing affordability, quality of life, and whether it has a strong Veteran community, which all rank high among Veterans as important things a place must have to call home. 

This year, after taking all that into consideration, it named Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the No. 1 spot for veterans to live.

“Our latest analysis is grounded in what Veterans told us matters most, from affordability and health care to community connection and quality of life,” Chris Birk, vice president of mortgage insight at Veterans United Home Loans. “This year’s top cities reflect a growing interest in coastal living, but they also offer the stability, support, and opportunity that Veterans and their families need to build their next chapter.”

The South Carolina location won out thanks to its relatively affordable median home price of $324,900, its high quality of life score, as well as its high veterans community score. AreaVibes also gives Myrtle Beach a healthy Livability Score for the area’s low cost of living, giving it a B+ rating, healthcare, giving it an A+, and Housing, giving it a B+. It also noted that the region has fantastic amenities for all to enjoy.

“Within the vicinity, you’ll find a wealth of amenities, from restaurants and coffee shops to grocery stores and local shops, all easily accessible on foot,” AreaVibes explained. The only thing the platform dinged the region on is its lengthy commutes, which earned it an F, its crime rates, which also earned it an F, and its low employment opportunities. 

Myrtle Beach was joined at the top of the Veterans Home Loans list by Atlantic City-Hammonton, New Jersey; Lawrence, Kansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Battle Creek, Michigan, rounding out the top five. See the full list and report at veteransunited.com.