The list of the benefits the U.S. government offers veterans is long. According to Military.com, a news and resource website for military members, veterans, and their families, these benefits include disability compensation, pension programs, free or low-cost medical care through VA hospitals and medical facilities, education plans, home loan guarantees, vocational training, Small Business Administration loans, counseling, and burials. (These are the most popular veterans benefit in every state.)
For a variety of reasons, some states across the country are better places for veterans of the armed services to retire to, and the worst state for veterans benefits is New Jersey.
The number of people eligible for veteran benefits is large. Pew Research reports there are 19 million American veterans. The percentage of those from World War II has dropped to well under 1%. The number of Korean War veterans has declined to 5%. Almost 70% are veterans from the Vietnam War and Gulf War.
About 30% of vets nationwide (and 41% of those who have served since Sept. 11, 2001) have physical disabilities connected with their tours of duty or they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The difficulty of adjusting to civilian life, an uncertain pandemic-era job market, and the way each state taxes military benefits are other factors affecting them.
To determine the states with the best and worst benefits for veterans, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the article Best and Worst States for Veterans from financial comparison site MagnifyMoney. States were ranked based on the veteran population, the quality and quantity of Veterans Affairs centers, and the economic circumstances for veterans.
Based on these criteria, the state with the worst benefits for veterans is New Jersey, which scored 22.8/100. The best state scored 67.9/100, significantly higher. Only 5.7% of the state’s adult population are veterans, the second lowest percentage of all states, and that is projected to further decline. (Find out if any of New Jersey cities made the list of America’s 25 military cities.)
The state, however, has 16.9 veterans center facilities per 100,000 VA enrollees — the 20th lowest ratio. The median property tax range for veterans in New Jersey is among the highest at $7,000 to $7,999.
Click here to see the state with the best benefits for veterans
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50. New Jersey
> Score: 22.8/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 16.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (20th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $7,000-$7,999
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49. New York
> Score: 28.1/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 21.4 per 100,000 VA enrollees (14th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $4,000-$4,099
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48. Illinois
> Score: 29.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 16.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (19th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $3,400-$3,499
Source: robb1037 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
47. California
> Score: 29.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 13.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (9th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,800-$2,899
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46. Oregon
> Score: 32.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (20th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,600-$2,699
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
45. Michigan
> Score: 33.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.5 per 100,000 VA enrollees (24th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,000-$2,099
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44. Tennessee
> Score: 36.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 16.5 per 100,000 VA enrollees (18th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,100-$1,199
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
43. Texas
> Score: 37.3/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 11.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (5th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,500-$2,599
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
42. Wisconsin
> Score: 37.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 15.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (15th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $3,000-$3,099
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41. Massachusetts
> Score: 37.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 21.5 per 100,000 VA enrollees (13th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $4,000-$4,099
Source: Bastiaan Slabbers / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
40. Pennsylvania
> Score: 39.2/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 17.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (23rd lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,500-$2,599
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39. Connecticut
> Score: 39.3/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 17.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (24th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $5,000-$5,499
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38. Ohio
> Score: 39.6/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 14.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (13th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,900-$1,999
Source: Sean Gardner / Getty Images
37. Louisiana
> Score: 39.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 17.1 per 100,000 VA enrollees (21st lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $400-$449
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36. Mississippi
> Score: 41.3/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 16.2 per 100,000 VA enrollees (17th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $600-$649
Source: Marvin Lynchard / U.S. Department of Defense
35. Rhode Island
> Score: 41.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 14.4 per 100,000 VA enrollees (12th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $3,800-$3,899
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34. Minnesota
> Score: 41.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 12.2 per 100,000 VA enrollees (7th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,200-$2,299
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33. Florida
> Score: 42.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 13.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (10th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,500-$1,599
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32. Indiana
> Score: 42.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 17.1 per 100,000 VA enrollees (22nd lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,000-$1,099
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31. Georgia
> Score: 43.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 12.7 per 100,000 VA enrollees (8th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,300-$1,399
Source: Tom Pennington / Getty Images
30. Oklahoma
> Score: 43.2/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 15.0 per 100,000 VA enrollees (14th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,000-$1,099
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29. Arizona
> Score: 43.8/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 17.4 per 100,000 VA enrollees (25th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,400-$1,499
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28. Missouri
> Score: 44.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 19.4 per 100,000 VA enrollees (19th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,300-$1,399
Source: George Frey / Getty Images
27. Utah
> Score: 44.1/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.5 per 100,000 VA enrollees (23rd highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,500-$1,599
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26. Washington
> Score: 44.2/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 10.0 per 100,000 VA enrollees (2nd lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,900-$2,999
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25. Arkansas
> Score: 44.5/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 20.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (16th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $700-$749
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24. Kentucky
> Score: 45.6/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.2 per 100,000 VA enrollees (25th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,100-$1,199
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23. New Hampshire
> Score: 46.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 20.0 per 100,000 VA enrollees (18th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $5,000-$5,499
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22. Maryland
> Score: 46.8/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 11.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (6th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $3,000-$3,099
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21. Nevada
> Score: 47.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.7 per 100,000 VA enrollees (21st highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,500-$1,599
Source: Jacqueline Nix / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
20. Alabama
> Score: 47.5/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 14.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (11th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $400-$449
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19. New Mexico
> Score: 48.5/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 26.2 per 100,000 VA enrollees (10th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,200-$1,299
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18. Nebraska
> Score: 48.8/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 20.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (17th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,500-$2,599
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
17. West Virginia
> Score: 49.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 27.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (8th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $600-$649
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16. Colorado
> Score: 49.2/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 16.0 per 100,000 VA enrollees (16th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,500-$1,599
Source: Bastiaan Slabbers / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
15. Delaware
> Score: 49.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 18.5 per 100,000 VA enrollees (22nd highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,200-$1,299
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14. North Carolina
> Score: 50.1/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 10.6 per 100,000 VA enrollees (3rd lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,300-$1,399
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13. South Carolina
> Score: 51.0/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 10.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (4th lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $800-$849
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12. Iowa
> Score: 51.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 23.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (12th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,000-$2,099
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11. Montana
> Score: 53.1/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 43.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (2nd highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,700-$1,799
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10. Kansas
> Score: 53.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 25.2 per 100,000 VA enrollees (11th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,900-$1,999
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9. Maine
> Score: 55.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 27.9 per 100,000 VA enrollees (7th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,300-$2,399
Source: pabradyphoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
8. South Dakota
> Score: 56.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 35.6 per 100,000 VA enrollees (5th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,000-$2,099
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7. Vermont
> Score: 57.6/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 43.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (3rd highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $4,000-$4,099
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6. Idaho
> Score: 60.4/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 21.3 per 100,000 VA enrollees (15th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,200-$1,299
Source: Mark Wilson / Getty Images
5. Virginia
> Score: 62.5/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 9.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (the lowest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,200-$2,299
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4. Alaska
> Score: 66.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 26.6 per 100,000 VA enrollees (9th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $2,000-$2,099
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3. Wyoming
> Score: 67.1/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 53.1 per 100,000 VA enrollees (the highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,200-$1,299
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2. Hawaii
> Score: 67.7/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 29.8 per 100,000 VA enrollees (6th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,500-$1,599
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1. North Dakota
> Score: 67.9/100
> Number of Veterans centers: 43.6 per 100,000 VA enrollees (4th highest)
> Median property tax range for veterans: $1,600-$1,699
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