With May being Military Appreciation Month and Memorial Day approaching, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees, along with its Memorial Day Facts infographic and expert commentary.
To help our troops plan their years after service, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key indicators of retirement-friendliness toward veterans. The data set ranges from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability to the quality of VA hospitals.
Military Retirement in South Carolina (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 1st
- 7th – Veterans per Capita
- 15th – % of Homeless Veterans
- 7th – Veteran Job Opportunities
- 26th – Housing Affordability
- 2nd – % of Veteran-Owned Businesses
- 10th – Number of VA Benefits-Administration Facilities per Number of Veterans
- 4th – Quality of VA Hospitals
In-Depth Look at the Best States for Military Retirees
South Carolina
South Carolina is the best state for military retirees, in part because it has many policies in place to help veterans. The state allows businesses to give preferential hiring to veterans, offers academic credit for military service, and has veteran treatment courts, which give services like treatment and mentoring to veterans in the criminal justice system. South Carolina doesn’t tax military pensions, either.
The Palmetto State has the third-best VA hospitals in the country, and the second-most hospitals per capita, which can help ensure that military retirees stay healthy. In addition, South Carolina has the seventh-most veterans per capita and the second-most veteran-owned businesses per capita, which indicates that military retirees have good social and business opportunities.
Maryland
Maryland is the second-best state for military retirees, in part because it offers extensive healthcare options with the ninth-highest number of hospital establishments. Additionally the state has a large number of VA Benefits Administration facilities per capita, ensuring veterans receive dedicated support. The state is also a great place for veterans to continue their education after their military service is done, as Maryland has the ninth-best colleges and universities in the country, and it gives academic credit for military service.
The Old Line State is a good place for military retirees’ finances, too. Maryland partially exempts taxation on military pensions, and it has the 10th-highest job opportunities for veterans. It also has the 13th-highest veteran-owned businesses in the country.
To top things off, Maryland allows employers to give preference to veterans when hiring and has veteran treatment courts.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is the third-best state for military retirees, and it boasts the highest number of veteran job opportunities in the nation. This is partly due to the fact that veterans make up nearly 7% of the population in general, the 14-highest share in the country. In addition, New Hampshire has the 14th-greatest amount of funding contracts from the Department of Defense per capita.
The Granite State takes care of its military retirees, too. The state not only exempts military pensions from taxation but also has the 11th-most mental health counselors per capita, making it easier for struggling veterans to find support. Additionally, New Hampshire ranks second in the nation for the share of veterans not receiving SNAP benefits, highlighting economic stability among its veteran population.
Finally, New Hampshire has a number of policies in place to help veterans, such as allowing veterans to be preferred in hiring, has veteran treatment courts and provides academic credit for military service.
Blue States vs. Red States
