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Overall Rating: 96/100 · 1,309,000 veterans (5% of population)
None - no state income tax
1.8% average effective rate
Full exemption
Limited exemptions
$76,000
VA Medical Center
7901 N Metropolis Dr, Austin, TX 78744
(512) 823-4000
Full service, surgery, cardiology, oncology, mental health, PTSD specialty
VA Medical Center
2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030
(713) 791-1414
Level 1 trauma center, research hospital, all specialties available
VA Medical Center
7400 Merton Minter, San Antonio, TX 78229
(210) 617-5300
Full service, strong surgical programs, military connection
VA Medical Center
4500 S Lancaster Rd, Dallas, TX 75216
(214) 742-8387
Full service, cardiology, neurology, oncology, rehabilitation
Free tuition
Texas resident veteran, 181+ days active duty, up to 150 semester credit hours
4-year value: $40,000
Free tuition for dependents
Unused hours can transfer to spouse/children
4-year value: $40,000
Median Home
$465,000
1BR Rent
$1,600/mo
COL Index
119
Unemployment
3.2%
Major employers: Tesla, Apple, Google, Oracle, Dell, defense contractors
Pros: Booming tech job market, UT Austin, excellent VA, vibrant culture, no income tax
Cons: Expensive housing, worst traffic in Texas, hot summers, rapid growth
Median Home
$285,000
1BR Rent
$1,100/mo
COL Index
92
Unemployment
3.4%
Major employers: Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston, USAA, VA facilities
Pros: Huge veteran community (12.2%!), most affordable major TX city, multiple bases, excellent VA
Cons: Hot humid summers, lower salaries than Austin/Dallas, tourist traffic downtown
Median Home
$330,000
1BR Rent
$1,200/mo
COL Index
95
Unemployment
3.5%
Major employers: Lockheed Martin (F-35 plant), Bell Helicopter, NAS Fort Worth JRB
Pros: Defense industry jobs, more affordable than Dallas, DFW airport
Cons: Urban sprawl, hot summers, traffic
Median Home
$325,000
1BR Rent
$1,200/mo
COL Index
94
Unemployment
3.7%
Major employers: Energy companies, medical center, aerospace (NASA), port logistics
Pros: Best VA hospital in TX (DeBakey VAMC), diverse economy, NASA
Cons: Hurricane risk, flooding, hot humid summers, traffic, sprawl
Median Home
$385,000
1BR Rent
$1,400/mo
COL Index
103
Unemployment
3.4%
Major employers: Corporate headquarters (AT&T, TI), finance, tech, logistics
Pros: Major corporate hub, DFW airport, diverse job market
Cons: Expensive housing, worst traffic in TX, less military-connected
Most veterans considering Texas for relocation pair this with one of these next steps:
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Quick calculator
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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