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▲

Nebraska2 cities

7.7exempt—

#2▲

Texas19 cities

7.7no income tax—

#3▲

Alabama6 cities

7.7exempt—

Arkansas3 cities

7.7exempt—

Oklahoma3 cities

7.6exempt—

Kansas3 cities

7.6exempt—

Missouri3 cities

7.6exempt—

Tennessee6 cities

7.5no income tax—

South Dakota2 cities

7.5no income tax—

#10

Pennsylvania9 cities

7.5exempt—

#11

South Carolina6 cities

7.5exempt—

#12

Ohio8 cities

7.4exempt—

#13

Florida16 cities

7.4no income tax—

#14

Mississippi2 cities

7.4exempt—

#15

Wisconsin4 cities

7.4exempt—

#16

Alaska1 cities

7.4no income tax—

#17

New Mexico1 cities

7.4partial—

#18

West Virginia2 cities

7.4exempt—

#19

Indiana4 cities

7.3exempt—

#20

North Dakota3 cities

7.3exempt—

#21

Louisiana6 cities

7.2exempt—

#22

Illinois3 cities

7.2exempt—

#23

Iowa3 cities

7.1exempt—

#24

North Carolina12 cities

7exempt *—

#25

Kentucky2 cities

7partial *—

#26

Georgia6 cities

6.9partial *—

#27

Montana1 cities

6.9partial *—

#28

Nevada2 cities

6.8no income tax—

#29

Arizona4 cities

6.8exempt—

#30

Washington7 cities

6.7no income tax—

#31

Wyoming1 cities

6.7no income tax—

#32

New York9 cities

6.7exempt—

#33

Idaho1 cities

6.5partial *—

#34

Utah3 cities

6.5exempt—

#35

Virginia6 cities

6.5partial—

#36

New Hampshire1 cities

6.5no income tax—

#37

Connecticut4 cities

6.5exempt—

#38

Maryland3 cities

6.4partial *—

#39

Minnesota2 cities

6.4exempt—

#40

Michigan6 cities

6.4exempt—

#41

Colorado5 cities

6.3partial *—

#42

Massachusetts3 cities

6.1exempt—

#43

Maine1 cities

5.8exempt—

#44

Rhode Island1 cities

5.6exempt—

#45

Oregon3 cities

5.5partial *—

#46

Hawaii1 cities

5.2exempt—

#47

California20 cities

5.2partial *—

#48

PR2 cities

5.1——

#49

New Jersey2 cities

4.9exempt—

#50▼

District of Columbia1 cities

4.3taxed—

#51▼

Delaware0 cities

0partial *—

#52▼

Vermont0 cities

0partial *—

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