Tampa has been named the second-best city in the United States for military veterans, according to a new report released for Veterans Day by the financial website WalletHub.

The study compared the country’s 100 largest cities across 19 key metrics, including employment opportunities, income growth, housing affordability, healthcare access and community support. Austin, Texas, claimed the top spot.

Tampa excels in several areas, ranking third for the number of VA health facilities per capita, sixth for VA benefits offices, and second in the nation for the quality of VA medical care. The city’s median annual income for veterans is approximately $53,000 and grows at a rate of more than 6% per year, one of the fastest increases in the country.

Local veterans said they understood the high ranking. “I wasn’t aware that we were rated so high, but it makes sense, especially around here,” said veteran Jack Standfast. Another veteran, Lenny Swanson, noted the benefits of Tampa’s large military community: “You get the discounts, you’re respected everywhere you go.”

Several other Florida cities also made WalletHub’s top 20, including Orlando (7th), Miami (13th) and Jacksonville (18th).

The study noted that approximately 33,000 veterans nationwide are homeless despite a national veteran unemployment rate of 3.1%.

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