State Rankings

The best states for veterans, ranked honestly.

Ranked by 8 dimensions that actually matter: tax treatment, VA access, affordability, job market, and more.

RankStateScoreMil Ret TaxVet Pop

#1▲

NE2 cities

7.7partial200K

#2▲

Texas19 cities

7.7exempt1450K

#3▲

AL6 cities

7.7partial200K

AR3 cities

7.7partial200K

OK3 cities

7.6partial200K

KS3 cities

7.6partial200K

MO3 cities

7.6partial200K

Tennessee6 cities

7.5exempt460K

SD2 cities

7.5partial200K

#10

PA9 cities

7.5partial200K

#11

SC6 cities

7.5partial200K

#12

OH8 cities

7.4partial200K

#13

Florida16 cities

7.4exempt1520K

#14

MS2 cities

7.4partial200K

#15

WI4 cities

7.4partial200K

#16

AK1 cities

7.4partial200K

#17

WV2 cities

7.4partial200K

#18

NM1 cities

7.4partial200K

#19

IN4 cities

7.3partial200K

#20

ND3 cities

7.3partial200K

#21

LA6 cities

7.2partial200K

#22

IL3 cities

7.2partial200K

#23

IA3 cities

7.1partial200K

#24

North Carolina12 cities

7exempt730K

#25

KY2 cities

7partial200K

#26

Georgia6 cities

6.9partial680K

#27

MT1 cities

6.9partial200K

#28

NV2 cities

6.8partial200K

#29

Arizona4 cities

6.8exempt510K

#30

Washington7 cities

6.7exempt550K

#31

WY1 cities

6.7partial200K

#32

New York9 cities

6.7exempt780K

#33

Idaho1 cities

6.5exempt135K

#34

UT3 cities

6.5partial200K

#35

Virginia6 cities

6.5partial740K

#36

NH1 cities

6.5partial200K

#37

CT4 cities

6.5partial200K

#38

MD3 cities

6.4partial200K

#39

MN2 cities

6.4partial200K

#40

MI6 cities

6.4partial200K

#41

Colorado5 cities

6.3partial410K

#42

MA3 cities

6.1partial200K

#43

ME1 cities

5.8partial200K

#44

RI1 cities

5.6partial200K

#45

OR3 cities

5.5partial200K

#46

HI1 cities

5.2partial200K

#47

California20 cities

5.2taxed1700K

#48

PR2 cities

5.1varies—

#49

NJ2 cities

4.9partial200K

#50▼

DC1 cities

4.3partial200K

#51▼

DE0 cities

0partial200K

#52▼

VT0 cities

0partial200K

Methodology

Each state is scored across 8 dimensions using publicly available data. Default weights reflect what matters most to the average transitioning service member.

State Tax on Mil Retirement

20%

VA Health Access

18%

Disabled Vet Property Exemption

15%

VA Loan Affordability

15%

Job Market for Vets

12%

Veteran Community Density

10%

Cost of Living

2A / CCW Reciprocity