Madison Ranks Second Among Best U.S. Cities for Veterans

WalletHub's 2026 ranking weighs employment, affordability and access to Veterans Affairs health facilities.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military Jobs

Madison Ranks Second Among Best U.S. Cities for Veterans

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WalletHub ranked Madison, Wisconsin second among the best U.S. cities for veterans in 2026. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ranked 78th overall in the same evaluation.

Why it matters

Madison's high placement reflects strong economic and employment conditions for former service members in the Madison area. The contrast with Milwaukee's 78th-place ranking highlights how veterans' prospects can differ sharply even within the same state.

Veterans' median annual income in Madison grows by about 8% a year, the sixth-highest growth rate in the country, and the city's median veteran income exceeds $59,000, ranking 20th nationally. The WalletHub methodology weighting behind these rankings was not specified in the extraction.

The players

WalletHub

WalletHub is a personal financial website that publishes consumer rankings and financial research on topics including city livability and employment.

The details

WalletHub evaluated cities using metrics including employment, affordability, and access to Veterans Affairs health facilities. Madison also earned recognition for having the best colleges for veterans according to the ranking, with low veteran homelessness and unemployment compared with the 100 largest U.S. cities.

2026: WalletHub publishes its best cities for veterans ranking.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026: Veterans Day is observed.

Employment Landscape

WalletHub's veteran rankings rely on employment, affordability and VA health access as core measures, which places Madison's strong economy and employment rankings within a broader comparison of metro job markets. Madison's position reflects how state-level differences in economic conditions can shape veteran outcomes even among neighboring cities.

Veterans considering a move or job search can use the ranking to compare Madison's employment and economic conditions with other cities. Those weighing relocation should also review local costs and VA health facility access before making a decision.

The takeaway

Cities that combine strong job growth with low veteran unemployment and homelessness can offer meaningfully better prospects for former service members. Veterans comparing options should weigh employment data alongside affordability and VA health access.