There’s a reason that “listicles,” the catchy name for list-based articles, are in vogue: They combine short and sweet tidbits of information with some truly useful rankings.
The Internet loves lists: The best places to live, eat, work, play, and have a family. It’s helpful to know, by whatever gauge the listmaker uses, what’s the best of the best. Our latest favorite is a list from NerdWallet of the top cities for veterans in 2015.
As we’ve mentioned on the blog before, veterans transitioning back to civilian life have plenty of obstacles, not the least of which is discovering what their new career will be. That’s one reason so many veterans work very well in manufacturing after their time in the service: It’s a natural fit. Part and parcel of beginning a new civilian life is deciding exactly where that should be, and what better way to pick than by criteria for veteran life?
NerdWallet made , and of course, Nebraska is on it. All of the places on the list have at least one military base within the city limits or close by, and these top cities also have a higher percentage of veterans than the U.S. average. Veteran unemployment in these places is lower than the general population, an impressive standard since about 8.6% of Americans older than 18 are veterans. That’s no small number.
- Beavercreek, Ohio: Beavercreek is very close to veterans’ services, an important factor for many vets. The Miami Valley Military Affairs Association sponsors events and offers support for vets, and Beavercreek is only 15 miles away from the Dayton VA Medical Center. Honor Flight Dayton provides free trips to see national memorials in Washington D.C. for veterans of World War II, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and for terminally ill veterans.
- Madison, Alabama: Madison is very close to Redstone Arsenal, an Army post that provides support and services including employment guidance. Madison veterans also have the highest median income of any city on the top 10 list at $71,425. However, the closest VA medical center is about 90 miles away in Birmingham, which may be something to consider for many vets.
- Goodyear, Arizona: A few cities in Arizona actually made the list, with two in the metro area! That’s because the state hosts several military bases, and as such, has the Luke Air Force Base, Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base, Phoenix Vet Center, Phoenix VA Health Care System, and West Valley Vet center all within reach. The nearby Glendale community college offers many benefits for veterans transitioning from military life.
- Papillion, Nebraska: Papillion is located right outside Omaha, and has the lowest rate of veterans living below the poverty line on the entire list! It’s less than 10 miles from the Offutt Air Force Base, and in Omaha, veterans have access to the Omaha VA Medical Center and the Douglas County Veterans Services Office. The University of Nebraska Omaha is known for its high graduation rates for military veterans, and was recently named No. 1 in Military Times’ Best for Vets: Colleges 2015 rankings.
To see the full list, .
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