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 U.S. cities, veteran populations are relatively small. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 50 cities with the fewest veterans. Cities, defined as places with at least 25,000 residents, are ranked by the share of the adult population who are veterans.
Among the cities on this list, veteran populations range from as few as 0.9% to no more than 2.4% 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 places on this list are home to major colleges and universities, including East Lansing, Michigan; State College, Pennsylvania; and Princeton, New Jersey. 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 most cities 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 cities with the fewest veterans.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Source: SpVVK / iStock via Getty Images
50. Mountain View, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.2% — 433rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.0% — 633rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 8.5% — 537th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
49. Coral Gables, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 6.6% — 164th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 41.9% — 91st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.2% — 417th lowest of 1,720 cities
48. Skokie, Illinois
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.7% — 704th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 37.2% — 276th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.3% — 332nd highest of 1,720 cities
47. Cicero, Illinois
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.4% — 108th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.7% — 806th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.7% — 798th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
46. Hartford, Connecticut
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 17.0% — 520th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.5% — 607th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.7% — 382nd highest of 1,720 cities
Source: Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
45. Perth Amboy, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 17.7% — 474th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 39.8% — 153rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 8.7% — 508th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: DavieJones13 / iStock via Getty Images
44. Pharr, Texas
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.8% — 554th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 39.9% — 148th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.9% — 203rd highest of 1,720 cities
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43. Rexburg, Idaho
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.7% — 94th highest of 1,720 cities (tied)
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.4% — 668th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 724th highest of 1,720 cities
42. Wheeling, Illinois
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.3% — 660th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.7% — 251st lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 12.6% — 162nd highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Eloi_Omella / iStock via Getty Images
41. New York, New York
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.2%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.2% — 718th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 28.6% — 600th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.5% — 311th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
40. Santa Ana, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.4% — 216th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.1% — 225th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 4.8% — 536th lowest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
39. San Gabriel, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.8% — 232nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 39.6% — 163rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.8% — 777th highest of 1,720 cities
38. Golden Glades, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.1% — 376th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.9% — 379th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.3% — 274th lowest of 1,720 cities
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock via Getty Images
37. San Pablo, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 9.1% — 327th lowest of 1,720 cities (tied)
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 37.0% — 296th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.3% — 436th highest of 1,720 cities
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36. East Lansing, Michigan
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 7.3% — 200th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.4% — 669th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 32.1% — the highest of 1,720 cities
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
35. Glendale, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.0% — 848th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.7% — 811th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.8% — 279th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
34. Provo, Utah
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.6% — 774th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.9% — 781st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.1% — 716th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
33. Delano, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 28.0% — 73rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.9% — 84th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.0% — 232nd lowest of 1,720 cities
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
32. Miami, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 19.8% — 320th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 27.9% — 534th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.5% — 289th lowest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Courtesy of Town of Hempstead Facebook
31. Hempstead, New York
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 2.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 25.7% — 115th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.1% — 172nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 7.4% — 675th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images
30. Baldwin Park, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 29.2% — 57th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 28.3% — 582nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.8% — 209th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: aimintang / E+ via Getty Images
29. Princeton, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 5.1% — 87th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 25.7% — 363rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 19.3% — 26th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Thomas Kloc / iStock via Getty Images
28. Hoboken, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 16.9% — 542nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.8% — 259th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 15.8% — 62nd highest of 1,720 cities
Source: Ultima_Gaina / iStock via Getty Images
27. Jersey City, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.2% — 227th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 25.5% — 352nd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.5% — 317th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
26. Amherst Town, Massachusetts
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.4% — 421st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.5% — 780th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.6% — 179th lowest of 1,720 cities
Source: Art Wager / E+ via Getty Images
25. North Miami, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 15.7% — 670th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 37.4% — 266th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.5% — 155th lowest of 1,720 cities
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24. The Hammocks, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.8%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.3% — 222nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 20.4% — 113th 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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Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images
23. Rosemead, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 33.2% — 31st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.4% — 729th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.2% — 457th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
22. Elizabeth, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.6% — 241st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 24.9% — 328th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 8.1% — 575th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Smash the Iron Cage / Wikimedia Commons
21. Blacksburg, Virginia
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 20.6% — 281st highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 21.2% — 146th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 6.7% — 792nd highest of 1,720 cities
Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
20. State College, Pennsylvania
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 34.3% — 23rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 30.0% — 723rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.5% — 684th lowest of 1,720 cities
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Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
19. Doral, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.3% — 257th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.3% — 184th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 0.0% reported — the lowest of 1,720 cities (tied)
18. Paramount, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 33.5% — 27th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 15.4% — 33rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.8% — 210th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
17. Lawrence, Massachusetts
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 13.3% — 765th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 32.4% — 720th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.4% — 416th highest of 1,720 cities
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16. El Monte, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.3% — 256th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 27.5% — 504th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 5.6% — 712th lowest of 1,720 cities
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
15. Cambridge, Massachusetts
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 22.3% — 223rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 23.7% — 256th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 16.4% — 51st highest of 1,720 cities
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14. Lynwood, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.7%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.1% — 267th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 40.6% — 124th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.1% — 239th lowest of 1,720 cities
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13. Kendale Lakes, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 24.2% — 153rd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.5% — 189th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.1% — 240th lowest of 1,720 cities
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
12. Chelsea, Massachusetts
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 14.9% — 748th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 43.3% — 62nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 8.6% — 523rd highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
11. Paterson, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.6%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 12.2% — 658th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 31.9% — 782nd highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.4% — 281st lowest of 1,720 cities (tied)
Source: akrassel / iStock via Getty Images
10. West Lafayette, Indiana
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 0.4% — 6th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 33.8% — 568th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 16.2% — 54th highest of 1,720 cities
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
9. Somerville, Massachusetts
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.5%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.8% — 235th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 26.5% — 434th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 11.3% — 248th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: albertc111 / iStock via Getty Images
8. East Los Angeles, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.4%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 18.4% — 417th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 29.9% — 719th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 9.2% — 454th highest of 1,720 cities
7. South Gate, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 26.6% — 96th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 18.5% — 76th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.1% — 105th lowest of 1,720 cities
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6. Tamiami, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.3%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 21.5% — 247th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 35.9% — 380th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 1.5% — 69th lowest of 1,720 cities
5. Union City, New Jersey
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 34.9% — 18th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 19.2% — 93rd lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.3% — 128th lowest of 1,720 cities
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4. Fountainebleau, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.1%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 39.0% — 10th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 16.3% — 38th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.9% — 351st lowest of 1,720 cities
3. Huntington Park, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 23.5% — 175th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 34.9% — 479th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 10.7% — 298th highest of 1,720 cities
Source: Public Domain / Carol M. Highsmith via the Library of Congress
2. Florence-Graham, California
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 1.0%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 43.8% — 6th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 20.7% — 130th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 3.3% — 267th lowest of 1,720 cities
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Source: Juanmonino / iStock via Getty Images
1. Hialeah, Florida
> Civilian adults who have served in the military: 0.9%
> Veterans who first enlisted after 9/11: 28.3% — 66th highest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served in the Vietnam Era only: 22.2% — 179th lowest of 1,720 cities
> Veterans who served during the Korean War only: 2.6% — 172nd lowest of 1,720 cities
Methodology
To determine the cities 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.
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.
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.
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.
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