Wondering where to settle after your military service? Our comprehensive Military Retiree Care Ranking in America by State reveals the best and worst places for veterans to retire in 2025.
We analyzed all 50 states based on economic environment, quality of life, and health care to help military retirees make informed decisions.
From top-ranked South Carolina, celebrated for its balanced benefits, to lower-ranked states like Oregon, this guide highlights where veterans can enjoy the most supportive lifestyle.
Read on to discover which states truly honor military service with the care, affordability, and community veterans deserve.
1: South Carolina – The Top-Ranked State
South Carolina ranked as the number one state for military retirees with a total score of 63.82. It performed strongly across all categories, securing an economic environment rank of 5, a quality of life rank of 3, and a health care rank of 9.
2: Florida – Second Best for Retirees
Florida is the second-best state for military retirees, achieving a total score of 59.80. Its individual category rankings were an economic environment rank of 11, a quality of life rank of 4, and a health care rank of 18.
3: Virginia – A Top Contender
Virginia ranked as the third-best state for military retirees, earning a total score of 59.36. This state shows strong performance with an economic environment rank of 10, a quality of life rank of 5, and a health care rank of 19.
4: Maryland – Strong in Quality of Life
Maryland secured the fourth position overall for military retirees with a total score of 58.58. It particularly excelled in quality of life, ranking 1st, while its economic environment rank was 17 and health care rank was 32.
5: North Dakota – High Economic Environment Rank
North Dakota is the fifth-best state for military retirees, boasting a total score of 58.10. It notably performed well in the economic environment category, ranking 2nd, with a quality of life rank of 26 and a health care rank of 13.
6: Minnesota
Minnesota is ranked as the sixth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 57.98. Its category ranks include an economic environment rank of 27, a quality of life rank of 35, and a health care rank of 2.
7: Alaska
Alaska holds the seventh position among states for military retirees, having a total score of 57.97. It has an economic environment rank of 8, a quality of life rank of 6, and a health care rank of 28.
8: Connecticut – Leading in Health Care
Connecticut ranks as the eighth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 57.83. It stands out with a health care rank of 1, alongside an economic environment rank of 43 and a quality of life rank of 20.
9: New Hampshire
New Hampshire is the ninth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 57.13. Its category rankings include an economic environment rank of 23, a quality of life rank of 10, and a health care rank of 11.
10: South Dakota
South Dakota secured the tenth position for military retirees, recording a total score of 56.18. The state’s economic environment rank is 14, its quality of life rank is 27, and its health care rank is 10.
11: North Carolina
North Carolina ranks as the eleventh-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 56.04. Its economic environment rank is 7, its quality of life rank is 15, and its health care rank is 21.
12: Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the twelfth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 55.63. It has an economic environment rank of 31, a quality of life rank of 36, and a health care rank of 4.
13: Wyoming
Wyoming ranked as the thirteenth-best state for military retirees, achieving a total score of 55.31. It has an economic environment rank of 6, a quality of life rank of 2, and a health care rank of 47.
14: Alabama
Alabama is the fourteenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 55.29. The state’s economic environment rank is 3, its quality of life rank is 16, and its health care rank is 38.
15: Michigan
Michigan ranks as the fifteenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 54.33. Its category ranks include an economic environment rank of 16, a quality of life rank of 41, and a health care rank of 7.
16: Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the sixteenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 54.19. It has an economic environment rank of 15, a quality of life rank of 49, and a health care rank of 5.
17: Ohio
Ohio is ranked as the seventeenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 54.02. Its economic environment rank is 26, quality of life rank is 42, and health care rank is 6.
18: Arizona
Arizona is the eighteenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 53.69. It has an economic environment rank of 12, quality of life rank of 9, and health care rank of 41.
19: Oklahoma
Oklahoma ranks as the nineteenth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 53.67. Its economic environment rank is 9, quality of life rank is 7, and health care rank is 44.
20: Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the twentieth-best state for military retirees, with a total score of 53.57. It has an economic environment rank of 30, quality of life rank of 28, and health care rank of 8.
21: West Virginia
West Virginia is ranked as the twenty-first best state for military retirees, with a total score of 53.34. Its economic environment rank is 4, quality of life rank is 40, and health care rank is 29.
22: Maine
Maine is the twenty-second best state for military retirees, with a total score of 52.86. It has an economic environment rank of 19, quality of life rank of 25, and health care rank of 24.
23: Montana
Montana is the twenty-third best state for military retirees, with a total score of 52.31. It has an economic environment rank of 25, quality of life rank of 23, and health care rank of 17.
24: Arkansas
Arkansas is ranked as the twenty-fourth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 52.26. Its economic environment rank is 20, quality of life rank is 30, and health care rank is 22.
25: Kansas
Kansas is the twenty-fifth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.95. It has an economic environment rank of 40, quality of life rank of 17, and health care rank of 15.
26: Utah
Utah is the twenty-sixth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.87. It has an economic environment rank of 1, quality of life rank of 37, and health care rank of 45.
27: Louisiana
Louisiana is ranked as the twenty-seventh best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.52. Its economic environment rank is 28, quality of life rank is 19, and health care rank is 26.
28: Texas
Texas is the twenty-eighth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.22. It has an economic environment rank of 13, quality of life rank of 34, and health care rank of 34.
29: Hawaii
Hawaii is the twenty-ninth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.21. It has an economic environment rank of 41, quality of life rank of 12, and health care rank of 30.
30: Missouri
Missouri is ranked as the thirtieth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.16. Its economic environment rank is 35, quality of life rank is 21, and health care rank is 20.
31: Kentucky
Kentucky is the thirty-first best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.12. It has an economic environment rank of 34, quality of life rank of 38, and health care rank of 12.
32: Idaho
Idaho is the thirty-second best state for military retirees, with a total score of 51.09. It has an economic environment rank of 37, quality of life rank of 14, and health care rank of 27.
33: Illinois
Illinois is ranked as the thirty-third best state for military retirees, with a total score of 49.62. Its economic environment rank is 38, quality of life rank is 39, and health care rank is 14.
34: Georgia
Georgia is the thirty-fourth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 49.30. It has an economic environment rank of 21, quality of life rank of 18, and health care rank of 43.
35: Delaware
Delaware is the thirty-fifth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 49.04. It has an economic environment rank of 49, quality of life rank of 11, and health care rank of 23.
36: Indiana
Indiana is ranked as the thirty-sixth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 48.83. Its economic environment rank is 24, quality of life rank is 43, and health care rank is 31.
37: New York
New York is the thirty-seventh best state for military retirees, with a total score of 48.60. It has an economic environment rank of 50, quality of life rank of 47, and health care rank of 3.
38: New Jersey
New Jersey is the thirty-eighth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 48.33. It has an economic environment rank of 44, quality of life rank of 13, and health care rank of 33.
39: Nebraska
Nebraska is ranked as the thirty-ninth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 48.19. Its economic environment rank is 46, quality of life rank is 22, and health care rank is 25.
40: Rhode Island
Rhode Island is the fortieth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 48.03. It has an economic environment rank of 18, quality of life rank of 46, and health care rank of 36.
41: California
California is ranked as the forty-first best state for military retirees, with a total score of 47.80. It has an economic environment rank of 51, quality of life rank of 8, and health care rank of 16.
42: Colorado
Colorado is the forty-second best state for military retirees, with a total score of 47.44. It has an economic environment rank of 42, quality of life rank of 24, and health care rank of 37.
43: Iowa
Iowa is ranked as the forty-third best state for military retirees, with a total score of 46.26. Its economic environment rank is 33, quality of life rank is 33, and health care rank is 40.
44: Tennessee
Tennessee is the forty-fourth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 45.36. It has an economic environment rank of 22, quality of life rank of 48, and health care rank of 39.
45: Mississippi
Mississippi is ranked as the forty-fifth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 43.46. Its economic environment rank is 39, quality of life rank is 32, and health care rank is 49.
46: Washington
Washington is the forty-sixth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 43.39. It has an economic environment rank of 36, quality of life rank of 31, and health care rank of 51.
47: Nevada
Nevada is ranked as the forty-seventh best state for military retirees, with a total score of 42.98. Its economic environment rank is 29, quality of life rank is 45, and health care rank is 48.
48: Vermont
Vermont is the forty-eighth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 41.24. It has an economic environment rank of 47, quality of life rank of 44, and health care rank of 42.
49: New Mexico
New Mexico is ranked as the forty-ninth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 40.66. Its economic environment rank is 48, quality of life rank is 29, and health care rank is
50: Oregon
Oregon is ranked as the fiftieth best state for military retirees, with a total score of 39.65. It has an economic environment rank of 45, a quality of life rank of 50, and a health care rank of 46.
Alicia Richards