As Veterans Day approaches, Arizona is earning national recognition as one of the best cities for military veterans to live, with Scottsdale ranking No. 3 in the nation and three Arizona cities landing among the Top 15, according to a new report from personal-finance website WalletHub.
WalletHub’s 2026 report, Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live, compared the nation’s 100 largest cities across 19 key measures of veteran-friendliness, including employment opportunities, housing affordability, quality of life and access to healthcare.
Scottsdale earned an overall score of 65.25, trailing only Austin, Texas, which ranked No. 1, and Madison, Wisconsin, which ranked No. 2.
Gilbert followed at No. 7 nationally, while Chandler secured the No. 15 position, giving Arizona three cities among the country’s 15 best places for veterans.
The rankings come as the national veteran unemployment rate stands at 3.6%, compared with 4.2% for the overall population. Despite relatively strong employment numbers, veterans continue to face challenges involving affordable housing, healthcare access and transitioning into civilian careers.
Scottsdale stands out for veteran income, quality of life
Scottsdale’s impressive ranking reflects strong veteran earnings, income growth and quality-of-life indicators.
According to WalletHub, Scottsdale veterans earn a median annual income of approximately $68,000, the sixth-highest among the 100 cities studied. Veteran incomes in Scottsdale are also growing by nearly 7% annually, ranking 15th nationally.
The city performed particularly well in quality of life, ranking No. 3 nationwide in that category. Scottsdale also ranked No. 12 for its economy, No. 40 for health and No. 55 for employment.
Scottsdale’s relatively low unemployment rate and favorable conditions for retirement and raising families contributed to its strong showing.
The city also ranked third nationally for having the fewest homeless veterans, according to WalletHub.
Businesses are playing a role in supporting the veteran community. Scottsdale ranked 22nd for arts and entertainment establishments offering military discounts per capita and 26th for restaurants providing military discounts.
Gilbert, Chandler also earn national recognition
Gilbert’s No. 7 overall ranking was fueled by an especially strong economic performance.
The East Valley community ranked No. 1 in the nation for economic conditions affecting veterans. Gilbert also ranked No. 27 for quality of life, No. 40 for health and No. 48 for employment.
Chandler, another major East Valley employment center, ranked No. 15 overall with a score of 61.43.
Chandler performed particularly well in economic conditions, ranking No. 13 nationally, while placing No. 17 for quality of life, No. 40 for health and No. 49 for employment.
The strong showings by Scottsdale, Gilbert and Chandler highlight the advantages that several Greater Phoenix communities offer veterans seeking employment, financial stability and an appealing quality of life.
How other Arizona cities ranked
Although three Arizona communities finished among the nation’s Top 15, the state’s other major cities experienced mixed results.
Here is how all seven Arizona cities included in WalletHub’s national analysis ranked:
| Arizona city | National rank | Overall score |
|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale | 3 | 65.25 |
| Gilbert | 7 | 63.17 |
| Chandler | 15 | 61.43 |
| Mesa | 39 | 54.43 |
| Glendale | 53 | 51.64 |
| Tucson | 57 | 50.70 |
| Phoenix | 66 | 48.41 |
Phoenix ranked No. 66 nationally, placing it significantly behind several neighboring communities.
Arizona’s largest city ranked No. 75 for employment, No. 53 for economic conditions, No. 34 for quality of life and No. 86 for health.
Phoenix also ranked 63rd for housing affordability, 62nd for median veteran income adjusted for cost of living and 78th for the percentage of jobs related to military skills.
However, Phoenix performed better in some areas, ranking 19th for homeless veterans relative to its veteran population and 39th for veteran unemployment.
Meanwhile, Mesa ranked No. 39 overall, Glendale placed No. 53 and Tucson finished No. 57.
Supporting Arizona’s veteran community
Nearly 17.2 million veterans live in the United States, according to figures cited by WalletHub. Although veterans generally experience lower unemployment than the overall population, more than 32,000 veterans nationwide are experiencing homelessness.
Those challenges demonstrate why employment opportunities, accessible healthcare, affordable housing and community support remain critical factors in determining where veterans can successfully transition into civilian life.
“When veterans return home from serving our nation, it’s important for them to live in a place that provides good education and employment opportunities, along with access to quality care for their physical and mental health,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.
“The best cities for veterans have all these characteristics, plus added bonuses like large veteran populations for community support, plus many restaurants and entertainment venues that offer veteran discounts.”
For Arizona, the rankings offer both recognition and a reminder of the work ahead. While Scottsdale, Gilbert and Chandler stand among the nation’s leading communities for veterans, the results also highlight opportunities to improve affordability, healthcare access and employment outcomes across the state.
Methodology: WalletHub evaluated the 100 largest U.S. cities using 19 metrics grouped into four categories: employment, economy, quality of life and health. The complete rankings and methodology are available in WalletHub’s 2026 Best & Worst Places for Veterans to Live report.
