In a survey done by USAA and military.com, the Killeen-Temple-Ft. Hood area placed 3rd among 378 other areas as an opportunity for retired service members to seek second careers. The criteria used:
- employment opportunity
- sectors with military skills alignment
- overall job climate
- quality of life
- proximity to a military installation
- VA-administered health care facility
Killeen finished behind Manchester N.H. and Anchorage Alaska in the medium metro category (pop. 175,000 to 500,000) and was followed by Austin making Central Texas ideal for retirement.