Arizona’s Best and Worst Cities Unveiled: A Veteran’s Guide to Thrive

By Matthew Holloway |

In a recent study by WalletHub over the Veteran’s Day weekend, Arizona was home to seven cities featured in a ranking of the Best and Worst Places for Veterans to live. The analysis evaluated various factors, including job availability for military skills, veteran income growth, and access to VA Healthcare.

WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo emphasized the importance of offering veterans strong education and employment opportunities, alongside quality healthcare. “The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support,” he noted.

The ranked cities in Arizona were as follows: Scottsdale at #7, Gilbert at #15, Chandler at #16, Mesa at #29, Glendale at #44, Tucson at #62, and Phoenix at #75. Notably, Gilbert and Chandler boasted the 2nd and 5th lowest percentages of veterans in poverty. However, Arizona fell short in other critical areas, positioning it as a state with mixed results.

The state appears to be in the middle tier in terms of livability for veterans. In contrast, top-ranked cities like Austin, TX, and Orlando, FL, have reason to celebrate their placements. This might spark questions among Arizonans about the state’s overall appeal to veterans.

As of late 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported approximately 454,620 veterans residing in Arizona, ranking the state 13th nationally. The highest concentrations of veterans were found in Sun City, Sun City West, and surrounding communities.

Demographically, a significant portion of Arizona’s veterans served during the Vietnam War, with many also having participated in the Cold War and Gulf War. However, the number of veterans from World War II and Korea is rapidly declining.

Despite hosting major defense contractors such as Honeywell and Raytheon, recent statistics revealed challenges in veteran employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 47% of surveyed veterans were employed, with 2.9% unemployed and a concerning 51% categorized as “not in the labor force.” This trend suggests potential reasons why younger veterans may be less inclined to settle in Arizona, viewing it more as a retirement destination than a place for new beginnings.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. For insights and updates, contact him via email at Matthew@azfreenews.com.