Trajector Medical’s Best Cities for Veterans’ Healthcare

By Trajector Medical’s Editorial Team – April 15, 2025

Veterans face varying levels of healthcare access and quality of hospital care across the U.S. Trajector Medical’s 2025 rankings help veterans identify the best cities for their specific healthcare needs. Wichita, Kansas; Fargo, North Dakota; and Amarillo, Texas top the list, offering exceptional care in primary, specialty, and mental health services. In addition to the rankings, veterans can view the charts below to see how U.S. cities rank in terms of access to primary care, specialty care, mental health care, and hospital care quality.

About Trajector Medical

Trajector Medical is a leading provider of medical evidence services for people with disabilities and is based in Gainesville, Florida. Founded in 2014, its licensed medical professionals help individuals gather the medical evidence they need to secure the disability benefits they medically, legally, and ethically qualify for.

Key Takeaways

  • Wichita, Kansas tops the list of best cities for veterans’ healthcare.  
  • Seven of the 20 best cities for veterans’ healthcare are in the South. Another seven are in the Midwest. 
  • Just five of the 100 most populated cities in the country rank among the 20 best cities for veterans’ healthcare. 
  • Two Pennsylvania cities rank among the five best cities for veterans’ healthcare: Altoona and Wilkes-Barre. 
  • Charleston, South Carolina has the best access to primary care; Wichita, Kansas has the best access to specialty care; Wilmington, Delaware has the best access to mental health care; and Asheville, North Carolina has the highest quality hospital care.

Transitioning from military to civilian life presents unique challenges for veterans, but not all cities provide the same level of care they may need. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), health issues can develop quickly, with a survey of nearly 10,000 veterans revealing that 53% experience chronic physical conditions and 33% face chronic mental health challenges within just nine months of leaving active duty. 

Access to quality healthcare varies from city to city. In some locations, veterans benefit from shorter wait times for primary care, specialty care, and mental health services. Factors like community support, geographic location, and the local economy also play a crucial role in determining how easily veterans can access the care they need. By understanding and considering these factors, veterans can empower themselves to make informed decisions about their healthcare, which can improve their life trajectory.

How We Ensure Accuracy in Our Data

The Trajector Medical team analyzed 23 metrics from The United States Department of Veterans Affairs and The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to uncover the best cities for veterans’ healthcare. We examined data for 132 Veterans Health Administration hospitals, 82 of which had available data. Please find more details on our study’s methodology below. 

  • 1,886 data points analyzed 

Details Behind the Data

1)

Wichita, Kansas

1) Wichita, Kansas

City’s Score: 100 out of 100

  • Wichita ranks best overall in our access to specialty care category.
    • Wichita’s Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospital, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, has the:
      • Shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (3.8 days on average). 
      • Second highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (95%). 
      • Second highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed (90%). 
      • Third shortest wait time for new patients to access pulmonology (13.8 days on average).  
      • Fifth shortest wait time for existing patients to access pulmonology (4.5 days on average).  
      • 10th shortest wait time for new patients to access oncology (18.3 days on average). 
  • Wichita ranks fifth best in our access to mental health care category.
    • The city stands out for having the:
      • Seventh shortest wait time for existing patients to access mental health-integrated primary care (0.3 days on average).  
      • Ninth shortest wait time for new patients to access mental health-integrated primary care (1.4 days on average).  
    • Wichita also ranks sixth best in our quality of hospital care category.
      • Underlying metrics:
        • Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center has an overall quality rating of 5/5 stars.  
        • Wichita has the 10th highest hospital satisfaction rating (82% of veterans rated their VHA hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10). 
  • Additionally, Wichita has the eighth shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.8 days on average).

2)

Fargo, North Dakota

2) Fargo, North Dakota

City’s Score: 96.50 out of 100

  • Fargo ranks seventh best in our primary care category due, in part, to the city’s VHA hospital having the third shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.6 days on average).  
  • Fargo also ranks fifth best in our specialty care category. 
    • Fargo VA Health Care System has the:  
      • Shortest wait time for new patients to access orthopedics (14.8 days on average).  
      • Third shortest wait time for existing patients to access orthopedics (1.9 days on average). 
      • Third shortest wait time for existing patients to access neurology (3.3 days on average). 
      • Third shortest wait time for existing patients to access endocrinology (3.1 days on average). 
      • Fifth highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed (89%). 
      • Eighth shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (5.2 days on average).  
  • Additionally, Fargo has the third highest hospital satisfaction rating (86% of veterans rated their VHA hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10). 
  • The city also has the seventh shortest wait time for existing patients to access individual mental health care (2.7 days on average). 

3)

Amarillo, Texas

3) Amarillo, Texas

City’s Score: 95.59 out of 100

  • Amarillo ranks fourth best for access to mental health care.  
    • Amarillo VA Health Care System has the:  
      • Fourth shortest wait time for new patients to access individual mental health care (7.8 days on average). 
      • Ninth shortest wait time for existing patients to access individual mental health care (3.1 days on average).  
  • Amarillo ranks seventh best for access to primary care due, in part, to the city’s VA Health Care System having the fifth shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.7 days on average).  
  • Additionally, Amarillo stands out as the city with the:  
    • Shortest wait time for new patients to access neurology (17.2 days on average). 
    • Shortest wait time for existing patients to access neurology (1.8 days on average).  
    • Seventh shortest wait time for existing patients to access orthopedics (2.9 days on average). 
    • 10th shortest wait time for existing patients to access endocrinology (4.2 days on average).  

4)

Altoona, Pennsylvania

4) Altoona, Pennsylvania

City’s Score: 92.99 out of 100

  • Altoona ranks third best in our category assessing access to primary care.  
    • The city’s VHA hospital, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, has the:  
      • Fifth shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.7 days on average).  
      • Seventh shortest wait time for new patients to access primary care (13.1 days on average).  
  • Altoona also ranks 10th best in our category assessing access to mental health care. 
    • James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center has the:  
      • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access mental health-integrated primary care (0.2 days on average).  
      • Sixth shortest wait time for new patients to access mental health-integrated primary care (1.1 days on average).  
  • Additionally, Altoona stands out as the city with the:  
    • Highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (97%).  
    • Second highest hospital satisfaction rating (91% of veterans rated their VHA hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10).  
    • Ninth highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed (87%).  
    • Sixth shortest wait time for new patients to access orthopedics (18.2 days on average).  
    • 10th shortest wait time for existing patients to access oncology (1.3 days on average).

5)

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

5) Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

City’s Score: 91.94 out of 100

  • Wilkes-Barre ranks second best in our access to primary care category.  
    • Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center has the:  
      • Second shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.5 days on average). 
      • Fourth shortest wait time for new patients to access primary care (11.4 days on average).  
  • Wilkes-Barre ranks third best in our access to specialty care category.  
    • The city’s VHA hospital stands out for having the:  
      • Second shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (3.9 days on average).  
      • Fourth shortest wait time for new patients to access oncology (14.6 days on average).  
      • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access oncology (0.8 days on average).  
      • Fifth shortest wait time for existing patients to access orthopedics (2.6 days on average).  
      • Sixth shortest wait time for existing patients to access pulmonology (4.9 days on average).  
      • Sixth shortest wait time for new patients to access cardiology (21.7 days on average). 

6)

Charleston, South Carolina

6) Charleston, South Carolina

City’s Score: 90.21 out of 100

  • Charleston ranks best overall in our category assessing access to primary care.  
    • The city’s VHA hospital, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, stands out for having zero wait time for both new and existing patients to access primary care.  
  • Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center also has the:  
    • Eighth shortest wait time for new patients to access pulmonology (21.5 days on average).  
    • 10th shortest wait time for existing patients to access pulmonology (7.3 days on average). 

7)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

7) Sioux Falls, South Dakota

City’s Score: 86.35 out of 100

  • Sioux Falls ranks second best in our quality of hospital care category. 
    • Underlying metrics:  
      • Sioux Falls VA Health Care System has an overall quality rating of 5/5 stars. 
      • The city has the third highest hospital satisfaction rating (86% of veterans rated the hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10).   
    • Additionally, Sioux Falls VA Health Care System stands out for having the:  
      • Shortest wait time for new patients to access cardiology (19.2 days on average).  
      • Second highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed (90%).  
      • Sixth highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (93%).  
      • Sixth shortest wait time for new patients to access endocrinology (19.4 days on average). 

8)

Palo Alto, California

8) Palo Alto, California

City’s Score: 86.20 out of 100

  • Palo Alto ranks sixth best in our access to specialty care category.  
    • VA Palo Alto Health Care System has the:  
      • Fifth shortest wait time for new patients to access pulmonology (16.4 days on average).  
      • Seventh highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed (88%).  
      • Seventh shortest wait time for new patients to access endocrinology (19.9 days on average).  
  • Palo Alto ranks seventh best in our access to mental health care category due, in part, to the city having the shortest wait time for existing patients to access treatment for substance use disorder (0.3 days on average).  
  • Palo Alto also ranks sixth best in our quality of hospital care category.  
    • Underlying metrics:  
      • VA Palo Alto Health Care System has an overall quality rating of 5/5 stars. 
      • The city has the 10th highest hospital satisfaction rating (82% of veterans rated the hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10).  

9)

Asheville, North Carolina

9) Asheville, North Carolina

City’s Score: 84.68 out of 100

  • Asheville tops the list of cities with the highest quality hospital care.  
    • Underlying metrics:  
      • Asheville VA Medical Center has an overall quality rating of 5/5 stars.  
      • The city has the highest hospital satisfaction rating (93% of veterans rated the hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10).   
  • Additionally, Asheville stands out as the city with the 10th shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (5.7 days on average). 

10)

Clarksburg, West Virginia

10) Clarksburg, West Virginia

City’s Score: 84.62 out of 100

  • Clarksburg’s VHA hospital, Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, has the:  
    • Third shortest wait time for new patients to access oncology (13.5 days on average). 
    • Seventh shortest wait time for existing patients to access oncology (0.9 days on average).  
    • Ninth highest hospital satisfaction rating (83% of veterans rated the hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10).  
    • 10th shortest wait time for new patients to access primary care (14.1 days on average).  

11)

Prescott, Arizona

11) Prescott, Arizona

City’s Score: 84.08 out of 100

  • Prescott’s VHA hospital, Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, has a quality rating of 5/5 stars. 
  • Northern Arizona VA Health Care System also stands out for having the:  
    • Fifth shortest wait time for new patients to access endocrinology (19 days on average). 
    • Sixth highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (93%).  
    • 10th shortest wait time for existing patients to access oncology (1.3 days).  

12)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

12) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

City’s Score: 80.30 out of 100

  • Oklahoma City ranks ninth best in our access to primary care category due to Oklahoma City VA Health Care System having the third shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.6 days on average).  
  • Oklahoma City also stands out as the city with the:  
    • Third shortest wait time for new patients to access individual mental health care (7 days on average).  
    • Sixth shortest wait time for new patients to access cardiology (21.7 days on average). 

13)

Chicago, Illinois

13) Chicago, Illinois

City’s Score: 80.12 out of 100

  • Chicago ranks eighth best in our mental health care category due, in part, to the city’s VHA hospital, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, having the eighth shortest wait time for existing patients to access individual mental health care (3 days on average).  
  • Additionally, Chicago has the:  
    • Shortest wait time for existing patients to access orthopedics (1.4 days on average).  
    • 10th shortest wait time for new patients to access pulmonology (24.4 days on average). 

14)

Des Moines, Iowa

14) Des Moines, Iowa

City’s Score: 79.76 out of 100

  • Des Moines’ VHA hospital, VA Central Iowa Health Care System, has an overall quality rating of 5/5 stars.  
  • Des Moines stands out as the city with the:  
    • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access oncology (0.8 days on average).  
    • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access mental health-integrated primary care (0.2 days on average).  
    • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access treatment for substance use disorder (0.4 days on average).  
    • Fifth shortest wait time for new patients to access oncology (15.1 days on average).  
    • Sixth highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (93%).  

15)

Buffalo, New York

15) Buffalo, New York

City’s Score: 79.48 out of 100

  • Buffalo ranks fourth best for access to primary care.  
    • VA Western New York Healthcare System has the:  
      • Fifth shortest wait time for new patients to access primary care (11.8 days on average).  
      • Eighth shortest wait time for existing patients to access primary care (1.8 days on average).  
    • Buffalo also ranks fourth best for access to specialty care.  
      • VA Western New York Healthcare System stands out for having the:  
        • Third highest percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed (94%).  
        • Third shortest wait time for new patients to access cardiology (19.7 days on average).  
        • Seventh shortest wait time for existing patients to access cardiology (5.1 days on average).  
        • Fourth shortest wait time for existing patients to access neurology (4 days on average).  

Please find the complete dataset here.

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"We are committed to leveling the playing field for the underserved and at-risk disabled population, including veterans. This study is a natural extension of our decade-long mission to help veterans improve their life trajectory."
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President of Trajector Medical

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Methodology

To uncover the best cities for veterans’ healthcare, Trajector Medical examined data for 132 VHA hospitals (82 of which had available data for the measures we considered) across four key categories: access to primary care, access to specialty care, access to mental health care, and quality of hospital care. 

We considered 23 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights: 

Access To Primary Care – Total Points: 25 

  • Average wait time for new patients to access primary care: 12.5% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access primary care: 12.5% of score. 

Access to primary care data comes from the VA’s Access to Care database and was collected on March 5, 2025.  

Access To Specialty Care – Total Points: 25 

  • Percentage of veterans who are usually able to access routine specialty care as soon as needed: 1.8% of score.  
  • Percentage of veterans who are usually able to access urgent specialty care as soon as needed: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access endocrinology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access endocrinology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access cardiology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access cardiology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access neurology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access neurology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access oncology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access oncology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access pulmonology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access pulmonology: 1.8% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access orthopedics: 1.8% of score. 
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access orthopedics: 1.8% of score. 

Access to specialty care data comes from the VA’s Access to Care database. Wait times data was collected on March 5, 2025.  

The percentage of veterans who are usually able to access specialty care as soon as needed was last updated on February 11, 2025.  

Access To Mental Health Care – Total Points: 25 

  • Average wait time for new patients to access mental health-integrated primary care: 5% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access mental health-integrated primary care: 5% of score.  
  • Average wait time for new patients to access individual mental health care: 5% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access individual mental health care: 5% of score.  
  • Average wait time for existing patients to access treatment for substance use disorder: 5% of score. 

Access to mental health care data comes from the VA’s Access to Care database and was collected on March 5, 2025.  

Quality Of Hospital Care – Total Points: 25 

  • VHA hospital overall star rating: 12.5% of score. This metric evaluates hospital care using the following measures from Care Compare: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. Hospitals can receive between one and five stars, with five stars reflecting the highest quality hospital care. Data comes from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 2025.  
  • Percentage of veterans who rated their VHA hospital 9 or 10 on a scale from 0 to 10: 12.5% of score. Data comes from CMS, 2023 to 2024. 

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