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Best States
for Veterans

Military retirement tax exemptions, property tax benefits, VA hospital access, and veteran population — all 50 states ranked.

17

States exempt military retirement pay

7

States with full property tax exemption

4

States with excellent VA access

9

States with no income tax at all

Top 10 Veteran-Friendly States

#1

Florida

9.2% veterans · 100% disabled: full property tax exempt

100Ret. Pay ExemptFull (100% disabled)VA: Excellent
#2

Texas

8.1% veterans · 100% disabled: full property tax exempt

98Ret. Pay ExemptFull (100% disabled)VA: Excellent
#3

Alabama

8.4% veterans · 100% disabled vets: full exemption

95Ret. Pay ExemptFull (100% disabled)VA: Good
#4

Kansas

9.1% veterans · 100% disabled: full exemption

94Ret. Pay ExemptFull (100% disabled)VA: Adequate
#5

Arkansas

8.1% veterans · 100% disabled: full exemption

92Ret. Pay ExemptFull (100% disabled)VA: Adequate
#6

Arizona

10.2% veterans · Disabled vets: property tax reduction

84Ret. Pay ExemptPartialVA: Good
#7

Alaska

12% veterans · Up to $150K exemption for disabled vets

83Ret. Pay ExemptPartialVA: Adequate
#8

Montana

11% veterans · Disabled vet property tax assistance

82Ret. Pay ExemptPartialVA: Adequate
#9

Washington

8.5% veterans · Disabled vet property tax exemption

82Ret. Pay ExemptPartialVA: Good
#10

Colorado

8.2% veterans · 50% exemption for 100% disabled vets

81Ret. Pay ExemptPartialVA: Good

All 50 States — Full Ranking

#1Florida100/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Excellent#2Texas98/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Excellent#3Alabama95/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#4Kansas94/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#5Arkansas92/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#6Arizona84/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#7Alaska83/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#8Montana82/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#9Washington82/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#10Colorado81/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#11Georgia80/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#12Idaho80/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#13Nevada80/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#14South Dakota79/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#15Tennessee79/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#16Wyoming78/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Adequate#17Illinois68/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Good#18Virginia67/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Excellent#19Kentucky63/100Ret. Pay ExemptVA: Good#20California42/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Excellent#21Connecticut20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#22Delaware20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#23Hawaii20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#24Indiana20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#25Iowa20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#26Louisiana20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#27Maine20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#28Maryland20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#29Massachusetts20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#30Michigan20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#31Minnesota20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#32Mississippi20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#33Missouri20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#34Nebraska20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#35New Hampshire20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#36New Jersey20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#37New Mexico20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#38New York20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#39North Carolina20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#40North Dakota20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#41Ohio20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#42Oklahoma20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#43Oregon20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#44Pennsylvania20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#45Rhode Island20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#46South Carolina20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#47Utah20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#48Vermont20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#49West Virginia20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate#50Wisconsin20/100Ret. Pay TaxedVA: Adequate

How the score is calculated

Score out of 100: full property tax exemption (30 pts) · military retirement income exemption (25 pts) · active duty pay exemption (15 pts) · VA facilities access score x2 (up to 20 pts) · veteran population percentage (up to 18 pts).

Sources: VA.gov, Military.com State Benefits Guide, Tax Foundation. Updated 2026. Benefits change — verify current eligibility with your state's veterans affairs office before making relocation decisions.

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

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State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

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Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

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Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

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Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

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Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

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K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

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Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

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Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable