There are over 17.8 million military veterans living in the United States. These men and women, who have sacrificed more for their country than most lifelong civilians ever will, reside in cities and towns across the country, and are an important part of the social and economic fabric of their communities.
Young Americans enlist in the armed services for many reasons. In addition to service to their country, the reasons often include the opportunity to get physically fit and gain new skills. And many of these skills appear to pay off beyond their military service. A Pew Research study found that over half of all veterans say their service provided them with useful training for the civilian job market. Veterans are also less likely to live in poverty and more likely to have higher incomes than their non-veteran counterparts.
Nationwide, 7.1% of the total U.S. civilian adult population are veterans. This amount can vary considerably from place to place, however, and in some major U.S. cities, veteran populations are relatively small. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 metropolitan areas with the fewest veterans. Metro areas are ranked by the share of adult residents who are veterans.
Among the metro areas on this list, veteran populations range from 3.0% to 5.7% of all civilians 18 and older. Military veterans are slightly less likely than non-veterans to have a bachelor’s degree, and many of the metro areas on this list are home to major colleges and universities, including Madison, Wisconsin; State College, Pennsylvania; and Ithaca, New York. 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, many living veterans did not choose to serve and were drafted into the military during the Vietnam War. In nearly every metro area on this list, those whose period of service is confined to the Vietnam Era account for over 25% of the total veteran population. Here is a look at the wars that claimed the most American lives.
Click here to see the metro areas with the fewest veterans.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
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50. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.2% — 163rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.9% — 147th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.7% — 17th highest of 384 metros
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49. Madison, WI
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.4% — 180th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.6% — 175th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 161st highest of 384 metros
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48. State College, PA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.8% — 189th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.6% — 172nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 157th highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
47. Midland, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.2% — 14th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.8% — 19th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.3% — 55th lowest of 384 metros
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46. Elkhart-Goshen, IN
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.0% — 182nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.3% — 142nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.9% — 172nd highest of 384 metros
Source: JENNIFER E. WOLF / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
45. Athens-Clarke County, GA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.4% — 128th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 36.1% — 103rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.8% — 126th lowest of 384 metros
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
44. Bakersfield, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.8% — 84th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.8% — 120th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.7% — 190th highest of 384 metros
Source: garytog / iStock via Getty Images
43. Madera, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.1% — 107th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.6% — 129th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.0% — 56th highest of 384 metros
Source: Joecho-16 / iStock via Getty Images
42. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 9.0% — 43rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 36.6% — 81st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 8.0% — 98th highest of 384 metros
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
41. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.8% — 144th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.7% — 170th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 12.1% — 7th highest of 384 metros
Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images
40. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 10.2% — 89th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 37.7% — 51st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.3% — 43rd highest of 384 metros
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39. Kingston, NY
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 5.6% — 8th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.7% — 116th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.2% — 11th highest of 384 metros
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Source: Susan Vineyard / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
38. Bloomington, IN
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.2% — 173rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.2% — 143rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.1% — 149th lowest of 384 metros
37. Houma-Thibodaux, LA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.5% — 126th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 36.1% — 101st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.4% — 133rd highest of 384 metros
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36. Lawrence, KS
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 20.4% — 27th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.6% — 72nd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.6% — 68th lowest of 384 metros
35. Salinas, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.8% — 148th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.6% — 175th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 162nd highest of 384 metros
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34. Stockton, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.3% — 165th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 36.0% — 109th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.1% — 151st lowest of 384 metros
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33. Boulder, CO
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.3% — 132nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.6% — 174th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.7% — 112th highest of 384 metros
Source: BackyardProduction / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
32. Harrisonburg, VA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.7% — 87th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.1% — 151st lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.6% — 117th highest of 384 metros
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31. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.1% — 158th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.2% — 84th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.9% — 102nd highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
30. Fresno, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.1% — 75th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.7% — 177th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.9% — 103rd highest of 384 metros
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29. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.6% — 37th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.6% — 74th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.7% — 70th lowest of 384 metros
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28. Ames, IA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.8% — 31st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.6% — 75th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.6% — 186th lowest of 384 metros
Source: TriciaDaniel / iStock via Getty Images
27. College Station-Bryan, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 25.1% — 12th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 26.5% — 38th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.5% — 129th highest of 384 metros
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
26. Modesto, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 5.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.2% — 40th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.7% — 171st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.0% — 138th lowest of 384 metros
Source: eyfoto / iStock via Getty Images
25. Champaign-Urbana, IL
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.6% — 92nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.9% — 148th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.7% — 110th highest of 384 metros
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
24. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.4% — 178th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.7% — 143rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.5% — 19th highest of 384 metros
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
23. Salt Lake City, UT
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.7% — 36th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.2% — 105th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.1% — 86th lowest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
22. Odessa, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.9% — 16th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.0% — 124th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.5% — 64th lowest of 384 metros
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21. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 6.7% — 18th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 45.0% — 3rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.8% — 107th highest of 384 metros
Source: sshepard / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
20. Dalton, GA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.1% — 159th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 39.0% — 32nd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.6% — 123rd highest of 384 metros
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
19. Iowa City, IA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.4% — 98th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 28.2% — 61st lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.2% — 10th highest of 384 metros
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Source: JaySi / iStock via Getty Images
18. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.5% — 183rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.3% — 185th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.6% — 116th highest of 384 metros
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
17. Merced, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.2% — 174th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.9% — 160th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.3% — 95th lowest of 384 metros
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Source: Jonathan W. Cohen / iStock via Getty Images
16. Ithaca, NY
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.1% — 181st highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.0% — 128th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.9% — 133rd lowest of 384 metros
Source: santalechuga / iStock via Getty Images
15. El Centro, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.8% — 63rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 27.3% — 46th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.6% — 189th lowest of 384 metros
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14. Ann Arbor, MI
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.5% — 130th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.4% — 180th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.7% — 187th highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
13. Visalia, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 17.0% — 59th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.3% — 138th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.8% — 185th highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
12. Logan, UT-ID
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.7% — 88th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.7% — 94th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.6% — 121st highest of 384 metros
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.jpg "Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, TX, USA - panoramio (2) by Eric Friedebach")
11. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.2% — 73rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.4% — 133rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.4% — 164th lowest of 384 metros
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
10. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.3% — 123rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.3% — 160th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.6% — 32nd highest of 384 metros
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Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
9. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.4% — 179th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.1% — 80th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.3% — 23rd highest of 384 metros
8. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 4.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 7.8% — 29th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 36.1% — 104th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.0% — 12th highest of 384 metros
Source: bluejayphoto / iStock via Getty Images
7. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.9% — 150th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.8% — 187th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.4% — 40th highest of 384 metros
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
6. Provo-Orem, UT
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.1% — 33rd highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 27.9% — 53rd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 151st highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
5. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.6% — 124th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.7% — 116th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.1% — 51st highest of 384 metros
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Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
4. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.5% — 184th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.8% — 188th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.9% — 28th highest of 384 metros
Source: TomasSereda / iStock via Getty Images
3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 11.4% — 124th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.5% — 169th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.7% — 9th highest of 384 metros
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.7% — 114th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.8% — 145th lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.0% — 169th highest of 384 metros
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
1. Laredo, TX
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 3.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.5% — 95th highest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.1% — 102nd lowest of 384 metros
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 12.9% — 5th highest of 384 metros
Methodology
To determine the metro areas with the fewest 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.
Metro areas 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 the 384 metropolitan statistical areas as delineated by the United States Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau as our definition of metros.
Additional information on the share of veterans who served after 9/11, in the Vietnam Era, and during the Korean War are also five-year estimates from the 2020 ACS. Because the Census Bureau didn’t release one-year estimates for 2020 due to data collection issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all ACS data are five-year estimates.
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