There are nearly two million military retirees in the U.S., and that number is only expected to grow within the next decade. But military personnel need to carefully consider where they retire before leaving the service and entering civilian life.
Between varying state tax policies on military benefits and access to Veteran Affairs health facilities, states may not provide the same opportunities and support for members of the U.S. military. To find the best and worst locations for military vets, personal finance resource WalletHub ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia, giving them a score out of 100 points based on
“The scores speak to the fact that retiring from the military is not easy,” says Jill Gonzalez, an analyst at WalletHub. “Retirees face different struggles, including disability, post-traumatic stress and finding employment, for which they should receive more support from federal, state and local authorities.”
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Every state seems far from perfect, with the best and worst states on the list just 20 points apart, pointing to the challenges veterans face no matter where they live. Gonzalez advises retirees to consider each state’s tax policy on retirement pay and be wary of states like Vermont and California that tax 100% of income from the military.
Gonzalez also points to healthcare as another crucial metric, with WalletHub analyzing factors like physicians per capita, mental health counselors per capita, quality of Veteran Affairs hospitals and veteran suicide rate. The report notes that on average, states that voted for the Democratic party in the 2020 presidential election scored higher than red states by five points.
Here are the 10 best and worst states for military retirees, according to
