Madison Ranks Second for Veterans, Growing Incomes
Employers and businesses in Madison hiring or serving veterans should note the city's strong employment and rising veteran income growth.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Military Jobs
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WalletHub ranked Madison, Wisconsin second overall among U.S. cities for veterans in 2026, while Milwaukee, Wisconsin placed 78th. For businesses in the Madison area, the ranking signals a strong local market of veteran workers and consumers.
Why it matters
The rankings weigh employment, affordability, and access to Veterans Affairs health facilities, factors that shape where veterans choose to live, work, and spend. Madison's high placement reflects a combination of a strong economy, healthy employment conditions, and rising veteran incomes.
This is a composite ranking from a personal financial website, drawing on employment, affordability, and VA health facility access. Madison's median veteran income of more than $59,000 ranks 20th-highest nationally, and its veteran income growth of about 8% a year ranks sixth-highest, while the ranking itself does not disclose its full metric weighting.
The players
WalletHub
WalletHub is a personal financial website that publishes consumer-oriented city and business rankings across a range of economic and employment metrics.
Veterans Affairs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the federal agency that administers health care, benefits, and services for veterans, including the facilities whose access factored into the rankings.
The details
WalletHub evaluated cities across a range of metrics to produce its rankings for veterans. Madison's performance was driven in part by its economy, which ranked fourth, and its employment, which ranked eighth. Veterans in Madison also show low homelessness and unemployment compared with the 100 largest U.S. cities, and the city is rated as having the best colleges for veterans.
Timeline
WalletHub published its 2026 best cities for veterans ranking in 2026.
Veterans Day is observed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026.
Market Landscape
The result sits within WalletHub's recurring annual city rankings, which use a consistent composite of employment, affordability, and VA access to compare cities. Madison's standing reflects a market where veteran incomes are rising faster than most, while Milwaukee's lower placement shows the same state can host markedly different conditions for veterans.
Employers in Madison seeking veteran hires should weigh the city's strong employment and rising veteran incomes when planning recruitment and pay. Businesses serving veterans, including those in education and local services, may see demand shaped by the city's standing as a veteran-friendly market.
The takeaway
Madison's ranking points to a labor market where veteran incomes are growing faster than most U.S. cities, a signal worth tracking for hiring and workforce planning. Operators can monitor local veteran employment and income trends, and consult qualified advisors before making hiring or compensation decisions based on these rankings.
Further reading
For more on the employment picture behind this ranking, explore Military Jobs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Journal Sentinel.
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