Young Americans enlist in the armed services for many reasons, including the opportunity to gain new skills, get physically fit, and earn financial assistance to pay for college. One of the most common reasons, however, is to serve the country. On top of the more than 1.4 million active-duty service members in the military, the United States is home to over 17.8 million veterans.
The sacrifices veterans have made for the country often follow them long after their service. Nearly half of those who served after the terror attacks of 9/11 say they had an emotionally traumatic or distressing experience while serving, and about one in four of all veterans say readjusting to civilian life was at least somewhat difficult, according to a Pew Research study.
Still, the same study also found that over half of all veterans say their service provided them with useful skills and training for the civilian job market, and that veterans are less likely to live in poverty and more likely to have higher incomes than their nonveteran counterparts.
Veterans of the armed service reside in cities across the country, but some parts of the country have a considerably higher concentration of military vets than others. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 U.S. cities with the most veterans. Cities are ranked by the share of adult residents who are veterans.
Most cities on this list are in the South. In every city on this list, more than one in every 10 adult residents have a history of military service. In some, they account for more than one in every four adults. For context, 7.1% of the total U.S. civilian adult population have served in the military. Here is a look at the U.S. presidents who have served in the military.
It is important to note that while many veterans chose to enlist out of a sense of patriotic duty – including a considerable share of the 2.4 million who enlisted after 9/11 – many living veterans did not choose to serve and were drafted into service during the Vietnam War. In many cities on this list, those whose period of service is confined to the Vietnam Era account for over 20% of the total veteran population. Here is a look at the wars that claimed the most American lives.
Click here to see the cities with the most veterans
Click here to see our detailed methodology
50. Spanaway, Washington
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.8% — 165th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 24.4% — 294th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.1% — 46th lowest of 1,720 cities
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49. Newport News, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.4% — 107th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 20.5% — 120th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.0% — 40th lowest of 1,720 cities
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48. Jacksonville, Arkansas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.7% — 326th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.4% — 773rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.1% — 47th lowest of 1,720 cities
47. Titusville, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.0% — 380th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 28.6% — 604th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 721st highest of 1,720 cities
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46. Warner Robins, Georgia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 17.7% — 476th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 21.1% — 139th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.4% — 18th lowest of 1,720 cities
45. Lake Ridge, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.9% — 316th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 16.5% — 43rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.7% — 182nd lowest of 1,720 cities
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44. Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.2% — 189th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 21.6% — 154th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.7% — 184th lowest of 1,720 cities
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43. Chesapeake, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.7% — 399th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 19.2% — 92nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.9% — 91st lowest of 1,720 cities
42. Ridgecrest, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.0% — 383rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.2% — 181st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.2% — 697th highest of 1,720 cities
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41. Lacey, Washington
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.1% — 448th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.6% — 249th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.8% — 743rd lowest of 1,720 cities
40. Prescott, Arizona
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 7.6% — 221st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 42.4% — 75th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.0% — 476th highest of 1,720 cities
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39. Beavercreek, Ohio
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 15.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.3% — 185th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 20.6% — 125th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.6% — 310th lowest of 1,720 cities
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38. Odenton, Maryland
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 16.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 32.5% — 35th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 12.1% — 12th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.7% — 322nd lowest of 1,720 cities
37. Suffolk, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 16.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.1% — 374th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 17.9% — 64th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.4% — 67th lowest of 1,720 cities
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36. Lakewood, Washington
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 16.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 27.3% — 84th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 25.9% — 381st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.6% — 313th lowest of 1,720 cities
35. Converse, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 16.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 20.4% — 293rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.0% — 217th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.7% — 25th lowest of 1,720 cities
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34. Goose Creek, South Carolina
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 16.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.6% — 209th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.7% — 81st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.6% — 74th lowest of 1,720 cities
33. Lakeside, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.5% — 798th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.5% — 188th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.9% — 30th lowest of 1,720 cities
32. North Chicago, Illinois
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 72.3% — the highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 13.1% — 17th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.5% — 154th lowest of 1,720 cities
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31. Oakleaf Plantation, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.1% — 193rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 15.2% — 31st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.9% — 31st lowest of 1,720 cities
30. Evans, Georgia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 24.5% — 145th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 24.4% — 292nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.9% — 32nd lowest of 1,720 cities
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29. Lawton, Oklahoma
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.4% — 103rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.4% — 75th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.3% — 127th lowest of 1,720 cities
28. Bellevue, Nebraska
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.8% — 546th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 24.5% — 298th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.8% — 205th lowest of 1,720 cities
27. Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.5% — 244th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 17.8% — 62nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.9% — 90th lowest of 1,720 cities
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26. Pahrump, Nevada
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 17.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 4.7% — 71st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 46.6% — 20th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.3% — 695th highest of 1,720 cities
25. Sun City, Arizona
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 18.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 0.1% — 2nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 43.6% — 55th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 14.3% — 108th highest of 1,720 cities
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24. Hampton, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 18.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 28.7% — 63rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 17.5% — 56th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.5% — 157th lowest of 1,720 cities
23. Jacksonville, North Carolina
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 18.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 39.9% — 9th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 13.9% — 23rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.2% — 53rd lowest of 1,720 cities
22. Fleming Island, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 18.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 8.0% — 248th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 20.8% — 131st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.5% — 160th lowest of 1,720 cities
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21. Twentynine Palms, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 18.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 48.3% — 2nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 13.5% — 21st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 1,720 cities (tied)
20. Enterprise, Alabama
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.7% — 559th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 17.6% — 59th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.3% — 124th lowest of 1,720 cities
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19. Sun City Center, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 3.4% — 36th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 43.4% — 60th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 12.4% — 171st highest of 1,720 cities
18. The Villages, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 0.3% — 4th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 51.0% — 5th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.9% — 359th highest of 1,720 cities
17. Leavenworth, Kansas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 20.1% — 305th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.0% — 69th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.6% — 175th lowest of 1,720 cities
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16. Fayetteville, North Carolina
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 28.3% — 67th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 16.6% — 45th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.1% — 49th lowest of 1,720 cities
15. O’Fallon, Illinois
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 19.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.1% — 843rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 19.7% — 101st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.0% — 780th lowest of 1,720 cities
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14. Fortuna Foothills, Arizona
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 20.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.6% — 591st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.0% — 468th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.8% — 281st highest of 1,720 cities
13. Clarksville, Tennessee
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 20.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 34.0% — 25th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 12.1% — 11th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.9% — 33rd lowest of 1,720 cities
12. Alamogordo, New Mexico
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 20.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 24.9% — 133rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.7% — 80th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.7% — 522nd lowest of 1,720 cities
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11. Security-Widefield, Colorado
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 20.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.2% — 191st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 17.9% — 67th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.2% — 15th lowest of 1,720 cities
10. Schertz, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 22.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.3% — 815th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 13.2% — 18th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.7% — 80th lowest of 1,720 cities
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9. Fountain, Colorado
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 23.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 34.7% — 19th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 7.4% — the lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.2% — 54th lowest of 1,720 cities
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8. Sun City West, Arizona
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 23.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 0.3% — 5th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 42.7% — 68th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 19.1% — 28th highest of 1,720 cities
7. Cibolo, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 23.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.2% — 607th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 8.7% — 3rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 1,720 cities (tied)
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6. Navarre, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 25.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 24.2% — 151st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 10.0% — 5th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.6% — 23rd lowest of 1,720 cities
5. Sierra Vista, Arizona
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 26.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.4% — 348th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 19.5% — 97th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.3% — 426th lowest of 1,720 cities
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4. Hinesville, Georgia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 26.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 39.9% — 8th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 9.4% — 4th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.1% — 12th lowest of 1,720 cities
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3. Killeen, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 27.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 37.4% — 14th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 8.1% — 2nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.1% — 13th lowest of 1,720 cities
2. Copperas Cove, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 28.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.8% — 90th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 14.3% — 24th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.0% — 36th lowest of 1,720 cities
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1. Harker Heights, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 30.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.5% — 335th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 12.1% — 10th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.9% — 29th lowest of 1,720 cities
Methodology
To determine the cities with the most veterans, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the share of the civilian population 18 years and over who are veterans from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
Cities were ranked based on the share of the population 18 and over who are veterans. To break ties, we used the number of veterans.
We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. We defined cities based on a population threshold — census places needed to have a population of at least 25,000 to be considered.
Cities were excluded if the share of veterans was not available in the 2020 ACS, if the civilian population 18 and over was less than 1,000, or if the sampling error associated with a city’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a city’s share of veterans was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all cities’ veteran shares. We similarly excluded cities that had a sampling error too high for their population, using the same definition.
Additional information on the share of veterans who first enlisted after 9/11, in the Vietnam Era, and during the Korean War are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS.
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