Where Veterans Are Valued: A State Ranking for Military Retiree Care

Those currently in the military can face obstacles they may not be ready for when they retire. They have to consider whether the state they decide to spend their time as a retiree in is right for them. Housing, taxes, and overall quality of life play a huge role in veterans’ decisions. 

The step back into civilian life can be daunting, especially considering economic shifts and potential changes to retiree benefits that vary from state to state. It can be surprising to learn how drastically different military retirees’ lives can be depending on which state they live in.

WalletHub ran a study ranking all 50 states based on the best and worst choices for military retirees. If you or someone in your family is a military retiree or is planning to retire soon, we recommend taking a peek at this list.

Measuring Military Retiree Data     

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The study assembled by WalletHub looks at data related to military retirees across all 50 states. They gathered a variety of data, breaking it down into three categories:

  • Economic standings
  • Quality of life
  • Health care

WalletHub ranked the articles based on total score, with a higher score indicating a state is better for military retirees. In contrast, lower scores for the three category ranks (economic environment, quality of life and health care) indicate better conditions for retirement. In those cases, “1” means a state is the best in its category, and “51” means it’s the worst. The reason why some of the rankings have “51” instead of “50” is because WalletHub included Washington, D.C., in its rankings.

These are the best and worst states for military retirees, starting with the states that are the friendliest toward veteran retirees.

Shrimp boat in South Carolina.

1: South Carolina

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  • Total score: 63.82
  • Economic environment rank: 5
  • Quality of life rank: 3
  • Health care rank: 9
Palm trees in Florida.

2: Florida

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  • Total score: 59.80
  • Economic environment rank: 11
  • Quality of life rank: 4
  • Health care rank: 18

3: Virginia

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  • Total score: 59.36
  • Economic environment rank: 10
  • Quality of life rank: 5
  • Health care rank: 19
Maryland countryside with cornfields and farms.

4: Maryland

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  • Total score: 58.58
  • Economic environment rank: 17
  • Quality of life rank: 1
  • Health care rank: 32
Overlook at sunrise in North Dakota national park.

5: North Dakota

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  • Total score: 58.10
  • Economic environment rank: 2
  • Quality of life rank: 26
  • Health care rank: 13
Grand Portage State Park Minnesota

6: Minnesota

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  • Total score: 57.98
  • Economic environment rank: 27
  • Quality of life rank: 35
  • Health care rank: 2
Flowers in Alaska.

7: Alaska

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  • Total score: 57.97
  • Economic environment rank: 8
  • Quality of life rank: 6
  • Health care rank: 28
Connecticut lighthouse on rocky coastline.

8: Connecticut

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  • Total score: 57.83
  • Economic environment rank: 43
  • Quality of life rank: 20
  • Health care rank: 1
New Hampshire road winding through mountains in the fall.

9: New Hampshire

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  • Total score: 57.13
  • Economic environment rank: 23
  • Quality of life rank: 10
  • Health care rank: 11
Mount Rushmore.

10: South Dakota

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  • Total score: 56.18
  • Economic environment rank: 14
  • Quality of life rank: 27
  • Health care rank: 10
Mountain view in North Carolina.

11: North Carolina

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  • Total score: 56.04
  • Economic environment rank: 7
  • Quality of life rank: 15
  • Health care rank: 21
Farm in Pennsylvania.

12: Pennsylvania

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  • Total score: 55.63
  • Economic environment rank: 31
  • Quality of life rank: 36
  • Health care rank: 4
Bison in a field.

13: Wyoming

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  • Total score: 55.31
  • Economic environment rank: 6
  • Quality of life rank: 2
  • Health care rank: 47
Alabama highway over low country.

14: Alabama

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  • Total score: 55.29
  • Economic environment rank: 3
  • Quality of life rank: 16
  • Health care rank: 38
Waterfall in Michigan surrounded by fall foliage.

15: Michigan

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  • Total score: 54.33
  • Economic environment rank: 16
  • Quality of life rank: 41
  • Health care rank: 7
Lake in Massachusetts surrounded by fall foliage.

16: Massachusetts

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  • Total score: 54.19
  • Economic environment rank: 15
  • Quality of life rank: 49
  • Health care rank: 5

17: Ohio

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  • Total score: 54.02
  • Economic environment rank: 26
  • Quality of life rank: 42
  • Health care rank: 6
Arizona canyon.

18: Arizona

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  • Total score: 53.69
  • Economic environment rank: 12
  • Quality of life rank: 9
  • Health care rank: 41
Longhorn cattle in Oklahoma.

19: Oklahoma

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  • Total score: 53.67
  • Economic environment rank: 9
  • Quality of life rank: 7
  • Health care rank: 44
Winding road through Wisconsin countryside.

20: Wisconsin

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  • Total score: 53.57
  • Economic environment rank: 30
  • Quality of life rank: 28
  • Health care rank: 8
West Virginia lake with big rocks and trees along edge.

21: West Virginia

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  • Total score: 53.34
  • Economic environment rank: 4
  • Quality of life rank: 40
  • Health care rank: 29

22: Maine

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  • Total score: 52.86
  • Economic environment rank: 19
  • Quality of life rank: 25
  • Health care rank: 24

23: Montana

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  • Total score: 52.31
  • Economic environment rank: 25
  • Quality of life rank: 23
  • Health care rank: 17
Arkansas hiker on cliff overlooking mountains.

24: Arkansas

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  • Total score: 52.26
  • Economic environment rank: 20
  • Quality of life rank: 30
  • Health care rank: 22
Bison grazing.

25: Kansas

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  • Total score: 51.95
  • Economic environment rank: 40
  • Quality of life rank: 17
  • Health care rank: 15
Mount Timpanogos, Utah.

26: Utah

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  • Total score: 51.87
  • Economic environment rank: 1
  • Quality of life rank: 37
  • Health care rank: 45
Boardwalk in Louisiana swamp land.

27: Louisiana

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  • Total score: 51.52
  • Economic environment rank: 28
  • Quality of life rank: 19
  • Health care rank: 26
Water running through a canyon in Texas.

28: Texas

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  • Total score: 51.22
  • Economic environment rank: 13
  • Quality of life rank: 34
  • Health care rank: 34
Sea turtle in Hawaii.

29: Hawaii

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  • Total score: 51.21
  • Economic environment rank: 41
  • Quality of life rank: 12
  • Health care rank: 30
Lee's Bluff at St. Francis River, Missouri.

30: Missouri

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  • Total score: 51.16
  • Economic environment rank: 35
  • Quality of life rank: 21
  • Health care rank: 20

31: Kentucky

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  • Total score: 51.12
  • Economic environment rank: 34
  • Quality of life rank: 38
  • Health care rank: 12
Idaho mountains and pasture at sunset.

32: Idaho

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  • Total score: 51.09
  • Economic environment rank: 37
  • Quality of life rank: 14
  • Health care rank: 27
Cahokia Mounds in Illinois.

33: Illinois

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  • Total score: 49.62
  • Economic environment rank: 38
  • Quality of life rank: 39
  • Health care rank: 14
Marsh land in Georgia.

34: Georgia

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  • Total score: 49.30
  • Economic environment rank: 21
  • Quality of life rank: 18
  • Health care rank: 43
Trees on river's edge in Delaware.

35: Delaware

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  • Total score: 49.04
  • Economic environment rank: 49
  • Quality of life rank: 11
  • Health care rank: 23
Punch Bowl Falls, Indiana.

36: Indiana

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  • Total score: 48.83
  • Economic environment rank: 24
  • Quality of life rank: 43
  • Health care rank: 31
Long Island, New York.

37: New York

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  • Total score: 48.60
  • Economic environment rank: 50
  • Quality of life rank: 47
  • Health care rank: 3
Aerial view of New Jersey fall foliage.

38: New Jersey

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  • Total score: 48.33
  • Economic environment rank: 44
  • Quality of life rank: 13
  • Health care rank: 33
Hay field and rock formations in Nebraska.

39: Nebraska

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  • Total score: 48.19
  • Economic environment rank: 46
  • Quality of life rank: 22
  • Health care rank: 25
Middletown, Rhode Island.

40: Rhode Island

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  • Total score: 48.03
  • Economic environment rank: 18
  • Quality of life rank: 46
  • Health care rank: 36
Main Beach, California.

41: California

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  • Total score: 47.80
  • Economic environment rank: 51
  • Quality of life rank: 8
  • Health care rank: 16
Colorado Springs, Colorado.

42: Colorado

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  • Total score: 47.44
  • Economic environment rank: 42
  • Quality of life rank: 24
  • Health care rank: 37
Corn field with windmill.

43: Iowa

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  • Total score: 46.26
  • Economic environment rank: 33
  • Quality of life rank: 33
  • Health care rank: 40
Fenced pasture with trees and sunrise over Tennessee hills.

44: Tennessee

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  • Total score: 45.36
  • Economic environment rank: 22
  • Quality of life rank: 48
  • Health care rank: 39
Mississippi River.

45: Mississippi

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  • Total score: 43.46
  • Economic environment rank: 39
  • Quality of life rank: 32
  • Health care rank: 49
Washington snow covered mountains and evergreens next to lake.

46: Washington

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  • Total score: 43.39
  • Economic environment rank: 36
  • Quality of life rank: 31
  • Health care rank: 51
Colorful rocks in Nevada.

47: Nevada

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  • Total score: 42.98
  • Economic environment rank: 29
  • Quality of life rank: 45
  • Health care rank: 48
Farm in Vermont.

48: Vermont

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  • Total score: 41.24
  • Economic environment rank: 47
  • Quality of life rank: 44
  • Health care rank: 42
Hot air balloons flying in Albuquerque.

49: New Mexico

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  • Total score: 40.66
  • Economic environment rank: 48
  • Quality of life rank: 29
  • Health care rank: 50
Snowy Crater Lake.

50: Oregon

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  • Total score: 37.26
  • Economic environment rank: 45
  • Quality of life rank: 51
  • Health care rank: 35

States’ Military Numbers

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South Carolina is the best state for military retirees. One factor helping a state’s ranking is how many veterans reside in its borders. When it comes to which state has the highest number of veterans, South Carolina comes in at number six. Texas is first on that list, with approximately 1.4 million veterans. 

With 15 total military bases, South Carolina has a large active military population. The Palmetto State comes in eighth on a list of states with the most active duty personnel. Hawaii comes in first with approximately 42,000 personnel across 49 military bases. 

Which States Tax More

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Military retirees receive monthly benefits which certain states tax. The states of California, Montana, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont are where military retirement pay is taxed to its fullest, which is understandably a hurdle for many retirees. 

Eight states have no state income tax and don’t tax military benefits, while 26 states have state income tax but don’t fully tax those benefits. The number one state for military retirees, South Carolina, is one of 11 states where military benefits are only partially taxed. 

A Divergence

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One factor that potentially plays a key role in military retirees’ lives is access to veteran medical facilities. Access to healthcare tied to their military benefits makes a huge impact on retirees’ health.

Reportedly, California has the most VA hospitals in the U.S., with 103 facilities. However, California ranked the tenth-worst in the nation for military retirees to reside in.

Northern State Ranks Lowest

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Oregon has the unfortunate distinction of being the worst state for military retirees. In determining the ranking, the quality of veteran affairs facilities and hospitals makes a difference. 

Reportedly, one of Oregon’s largest VA hospitals ranks low in terms of quality. The Portland VA hospital received a score of 2 out of 5, according to the U.S. Veterans Affairs system. 

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Are you looking for a new city to move to during retirement? These are the top cities to retire in America, according to U.S. News.

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