States With the Best Benefits for Veterans
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 sshepard / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images…
There are more than 19 million veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces across the country and the world. After serving, veterans who are honorably discharged are entitled to an array of benefits and services provided by the government.
While many benefits are the responsibility of the federal government, some perks are handled by state governments. The quality and accessibility of these services can vary widely from state to state.
To determine the states with the best benefits for veterans, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed an article on the Best and Worst States for Veterans from financial comparison site MagnifyMoney 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.
About a quarter of veterans, 4.7 million people, have a service-connected disability. Veterans Affairs health care and other benefits provided to service members can be a crucial lifeline for those struggling with the physical and mental challenges they now face as a result of their service.
The quality of veterans benefits also depend heavily on economics — some states give out much more significant tax breaks to former service members than others, saving them thousands of dollars on property taxes. These are the states with the highest and lowest property taxes.
Click here to see the state with the best benefits for veterans
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Grant Suneson is a senior editor at 24/7 Wall St. He was previously a digital content creator at Newsy and a reporter at NPR member station KBIA, where he contributed to their Edward R. Murrow Award-winning coverage. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism.
Grant’s work has been published and referenced in many major outlets such as MSN, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, Detroit Free Press, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Austin American-Statesman, The Tennessean, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Indianapolis Star, The Clarion-Ledger, WSB-TV, Des Moines Register, Asbury Park Press, KMGH-TV, and many others.
