Where U.S. Veterans Live and How Much They Earn
As of 2017, 18.8 million military veterans lived in the U.S., which was 5.7 percent of the 327.2 million people in the country. Rightfully so, veterans have access to many state- and federal-level benefits civilians do not, and these state-level benefits can sometimes be so desirable, veterans head to these states in droves. Other variables, like income tax laws, average salaries and proximity to military bases, can drive these migrations too.
What follows are the 25 states with the highest percentage of veterans making up their population, and what makes them desirable for the bravest men and women in the U.S. All stats and figures from 2017 via the American Community Survey and Veterans Data Central.
25. (tie)
Median household income overall: $46,128
Household income difference for vets: +16 percent ($7,472)
Tennessee kicks off our list with 8.3 percent of its population being veterans. Vets flock to The Volunteer State because it offers excellent programs to help support the men and women who risked their lives for our freedoms and safety. Some key programs Tennessee offers vets include property tax relief on the first $175,000 of their home, tax-free motor vehicle sales, tuition assistance and high school diplomas for those whose education was interrupted by military service. This is all on top of the zero state income tax.
Veterans do well financially in Tennessee, too, with a median household income of $53,600 per year, which is 16 percent higher than the median in the state overall.
25. (tie)
Median household income overall: $47,851
Household income difference for vets: +18.4 percent ($8,821)
Though the number has been on a decline over the past decade, North Carolina ties Tennessee with veterans making up 8.3 percent of its population. Despite its decline, North Carolina has plenty of strong benefits for vets, including financial assistance for eight semesters of college to dependents of veterans, preferential hiring for state jobs, fast-tracking for professional licenses related to their role in the military and zero-percent down payment assistance for a home.
Like Tennessee, veterans do above average financially in North Carolina. They earn an average household income of $56,672, which is 18.4 percent higher than the median for the state overall.
23. (tie)
Median household income overall: $52,718
Household income difference for vets: +3.6 percent ($1,893)
Oregon is up next on our list with 8.5 percent of its population being veterans. This Northwestern state attracts veterans with its vocational assistance, job development and job placement for homeless vets, emergency financial assistance, income tax waivers, property tax exemptions for disabled vets, preferential hiring, discounted hunting and fishing licenses, and more.
Despite its higher percentage of vets, they do not see as much of an advantage in median household income. At $54,611 per year, veteran household income is just a 3.6 percent higher than the state median.
23. (tie)
Median household income overall: $60,758
Household income difference for vets: +3.9 percent ($2,382)
Delaware ties Oregon with 8.5 percent of its population being military veterans. Delaware pulls veterans into the state with attractive programs like up to $12,500 in tax-free military retirement income, temporary occupational licenses for spouses of military vets and a $3,000-per-year pension for paraplegic veterans.
Delaware is also a great place for Veterans to set up and find a new career, as Veterans Data Central finds the median household income for a veteran is a respectable $63,140.
21. (tie)
Median household income overall: $67,948
Household income difference for vets: -4.7 percent ($3,033)
New Hampshire comes in tied at No. 21, as 8.6 percent of all people residing in the state are military vets. What draws these brave Americans into the northeastern state? First, there is no income tax, so their benefits stretch further than in states with income tax. New Hampshire also attracts veterans with its property tax credits for select vets, tuition assistance and preferential hiring for state jobs.
Despite the high number of veterans in the state, New Hampshire is not the best place for pay. The median veteran household brings in $64,915, which is $3,033 less than the median New Hampshire household overall.
21. (tie)
Median household income overall: $48,400
Household income difference for vets: +15.3 percent ($7,400)
The Sunshine State is neck and neck with New Hampshire with 8.6 percent of its population being military veterans. Outside of its year-long warm weather and sunshine, Florida also attracts veterans with no income tax, property tax credits for vets with at least 10 percent disability, free tuition for highly decorated veterans, discounted hunting and fishing licenses, and more.
Veterans also do quite well in terms of median household income. Veteran households pull in a median income of $55,800 per year, which is 15.3 percent more than the median household income overall across the state.
19. (tie)
Median household income overall: $49,372
Household income difference for vets: +4.5 percent ($2,228)
This Midwest state attracts veterans from all over the country with generous benefits like tax-free military pension income, property tax exemptions for service-disabled veterans, free tuition for children and spouses of combat-injured vets, and more.
The median veteran household in Missouri has a $51,600 income, which is 4.5 percent higher than the median Missouri household overall.
19. (tie)
Median household income overall: $48,809
Household income difference for vets: +5.5 percent ($2,715)
Tied up with Missouri is Idaho with 8.7 percent of its population being veterans. These vets enjoy many benefits like tax-free retirement income, reduced property taxes for 100 percent combat-disabled vets, grocery tax credits, up to $1,000 in emergency grants, and more.
The median Idahoan veteran household pulls down $51,524 per year, which is 5.5 percent higher than the median Idaho household overall.
19. (tie)
Median household income overall: $61,943
Household income difference for vets: +4.6 percent ($2,869)
Finishing off the three-way tie is Colorado with 8.7 percent of its population being veterans. Some of the benefits drawing vets to Colorado include 50 percent off the first $200,000 in home value for tax purposes for 100 percent disabled vets, $20,000 tax exemption on retirement pay, emergency grants during active duty, preferential hiring for state jobs, and more.
Veteran households in Colorado also have a comfortable median income of $64,812, which is 4.6 percent higher than the overall median Colorado household.
16. (tie)
Median household income overall: $42,349
Household income difference for vets: +11.7 percent ($4,946)
Some of the programs that pull veterans to West Virginia include tax-free retirement pay, veteran bonuses for service in Afghanistan, preferential hiring for state jobs and tuition waivers for recipients of the Purple Heart or Medal of Honor.
The median veteran household in West Virginia brings in $47,295 per year. While that may not seem like much, it’s 11.7 percent more than the median household income in the state.
16. (tie)
Median household income overall: $52,600
Household income difference for vets: +10.5 percent ($5,525)
Nevada ties with West Virginia with 8.8 percent of its population being military veterans. Sure some vets are probably attracted to the excitement in Reno and Las Vegas, but there is a lot more that goes into pulling this many veterans into a state. Some of the programs attracting vets to Nevada include tax exemptions for wartime veterans, preferential state hiring, property tax exemption for vets over 60 percent disabled, and free college tuition for surviving spouses and children.
Nevada is also an excellent place for a veteran to land a job, as the median veteran household brings ins $58,125 per year, which is 10.5 percent more than the median Nevada household.
14. (tie)
Median household income overall: $42,023
Household income difference for vets: +15.3 percent ($6,437)
Sneaking in at No. 14 is Arkansas, with 8.9 percent of its population being veterans. Veterans love Arkansas because of its personal property tax exemption for disabled vets, tax-free retirement pay, preferential hiring, discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, and free tuition at any state college, university, or technical school for dependents of vets killed in action.
Income is also relatively high, as veteran households bring in $48,460 per year, which is 13.3 percent higher than the overall median household income.
14. (tie)
Median household income overall: $44,410
Household income difference for vets: +26.3 percent ($11,690)
Alabama ties Arkansas with 8.9 percent of its population being military veterans. Why do military vets flock to Alabama? First, Alabama has four state veterans homes where military veterans can live with a low monthly fee, so long as they spent at least one day at war and have an honorable discharge. On top of the low-cost housing, there’s also no income tax on military retirement pay, preferential state hiring, waived license fees and ad valorem taxes on select vehicle purchases, tuition waivers for medal recipients, and more.
The median Alabamian family income is $44,410 per year, but the median veteran household brings in $56,100, which is a whopping 26.3 percent advantage.
12. (tie)
Median household income overall: $51,623
Household income difference for vets: +7.5 percent ($3,877)
Veterans love some of the critical programs the state offers like property tax exemptions for permanently and totally disabled veterans, up to a $500 bonus for select veterans with active-duty experience and free college tuition.
The median household statewide in South Dakota brings in $51,623 per year. The median veteran household income is 7.5 percent higher at $55,500 per year.
12. (tie)
Median household income overall: $50,695
Household income difference for vets: +10.9 percent ($5,506)
The hot, dry climate may be a dream for some veterans, but Arizona has a lot to offer vets beyond its climate. It all starts with income-tax-free active-duty pay, no automobile license taxes or registration fees for 100 percent disabled vets, purple heart tuition waivers, and free passes to state parks for 100 percent disabled vets.
Veteran households in Arizona also do better financially than the state as a whole, as their median yearly income of $56,201 is 10.8 percent higher.
10.
Median household income overall: $47,668
Household income difference for vets: +17 percent ($8,091)
This midwestern state not only boasts seven homes for veterans, but it also offers property tax exemption for 100 percent disabled vets, state sales tax exemption for 100 percent disables vets, preferential state hiring, and free admission at state parks and museums.
The median household in Oklahoma earns $47,668, and veteran households beat this by 17 percent at $55,759.
9. (tie)
Median household income overall: $46,368
Household income difference for vets: +21.8 percent ($10,131)
Veterans love South Carolina because of its income-tax-free active duty pay, up to $11,700 in tax-free retirement pay per year, property tax deductions for disabled vets, free hunting and fishing licenses for disabled vets, and more.
South Carolina working veteran households also pull in good money, as their $56,499 median yearly income beats the state median household income by 21.8 percent.
9. (tie)
Median household income overall: $45,337
Household income difference for vets: +25.2 percent ($11,436)
Tied with South Carolina is New Mexico with 9.3 percent of its population being veterans. Veterans love New Mexico because of generous programs like its tax-free active-duty pay, $4,000 reduction on the tax value of their home, total property tax exemption for 100 percent disabled vets, and free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for 100 percent disabled vets.
At $56,773, the median income of New Mexico veteran households is also a whopping 25 percent higher than the median New Mexico household overall.
7.
Median household income overall: $62,400
Household income difference for vets: +4 percent ($2,515)
Some of the programs that draw vets to the northwest corner of the country include a $40,000 reduction in the tax liabilities on a home owned by a 100 percent disabled vet, free license plates for 100 percent disabled vets, preferential state hiring and military training counting toward occupational licensing.
Veteran households in Washington bring in a median of $64,915 per year, which is just 4 percent more than the median Washington household overall.
6.
Median household income overall: $50,300
Household income difference for vets: +3.8 percent ($1,911)
One huge attraction to this northeastern state is its 0.25-percentage-point discount on mortgages for veterans and active-duty military. Maine also offers tax-free retirement pay, a $6,000 property exemption for permanently disabled vets, and free hunting and fishing licenses for vets who are 50 percent disabled or more.
At $52,211, the median income of a veteran household in Maine is just 3.7 percent higher than the overall Maine household.
5.
Median household income overall: $71,612
Household income difference for vets: +13.7 percent ($9,788)
Hawaii has always been a hotbed for military veterans, and it remains strong with 9.8 percent of its population being vets. Much of its popularity is due to it having 11 military bases in such a small area, but it is also thanks to its wide range of state programs, including tax-free retirement pay, full property tax exemption for totally disabled vets, $5,000 in grants to repair or purchase a home for a disabled vet and preferred state hiring.
Costs are high in Hawaii, and so are wages, as the median veteran household brings in $81,400 per year, which is 13.6 percent higher than the overall median Hawaiian household.
4.
Median household income overall: $59,000
Household income difference for vets: +0.00007 percent ($41)
In Wyoming, a whopping 10.2 percent of the population are veterans, making it the fourth-highest concentration on our list. Wyoming offers veterans great benefits, including a $3,000 reduction in the assessed value of a home or vehicle for anyone who’s seen active duty and received a medal, a trust fund for financial hardships, preferential hiring practices for state jobs and free tuition at the University of Wyoming for members of the National Guard.
Veteran households in Wyoming bring in $59,041 per year, which is just $41 more than the median household income.
3. (tie)
Median household income overall: $65,821
Household income difference for vets: +23 percent ($15,179)
With 26 military bases and establishments across the state, including the Pentagon, it’s no wonder so many veterans reside in the state, but there are also great benefits keeping them there. Some key veterans’ benefits include tax exemption on $15,000 in military pay, property tax exemptions for 100 percent disabled vets, and free hunting and fishing license for disabled vets.
Military veterans in Virginia do very well with a median annual household income of $81,000. That is 23 percent more than the median household income overall.
3. (tie)
Median household income overall: $48,100
Household income difference for vets: +0.07 percent ($360)
Montana’s population is also 10.6 percent veterans, tying it with Virginia, despite having just two military bases and a negligible average pay advantage of $360 per year.
Montana attracts a lot of veterans because of the benefits it offers them, including tax-free active-duty and reserve pay, property-tax exemptions for 100 percent disabled vets, CDL skills testing waivers and 100 percent tuition waivers for honorably discharged vets.
1.
Median household income overall: $74,007
Household income difference for vets: +8.8 percent ($6,498)
Alaska tops our list for the densest veteran population at a whopping 11.9 percent. Not only does every Alaskan resident get a yearly Alaska Permanent Fund payment, but military vets get a handful of other benefits that make it worthwhile to live in this predominantly chilly state.
Veteran benefits include preferential unoccupied land purchasing, a 1-percentage-point interest rate cut on the first $50,000 of a mortgage through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, $150,000 property tax exemption for 50 percent or more disabled vets and 20 percent railroad discounts.
Alaskan veterans do well financially, too, with a median yearly household income of $80,505, which beats the state’s median by 8.8 percent.