Best and Worst States for Veterans
On this upcoming Veterans Day on Nov. 11, people will reflect on the importance of caring for the veterans who fought for our nation, though some states do this better than others.
A new LendingTree study analyzes seven metrics — Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital quality and care access, employment, poverty rates and more — determining that South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho are the best states for veterans. At the bottom are California, the District of Columbia and New York.
Find out how the states rank for veteran support and learn money tips for veterans.
Key findings
- South Dakota remains the best state for veterans. The Mount Rushmore State is the only one in which the number of veterans didn’t drop over the past five years, though it didn’t grow either. Veterans in the state give VA clinics the second-highest mark for being able to get a primary care appointment, and they have the third-lowest unemployment and poverty rates across the U.S. The state was also No. 1 in our 2021 report.
- Two nearby states — Wyoming and Idaho — are the next best for veterans. VA hospitals in both states earn perfect Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings, while Wyoming boasts the lowest veteran unemployment rate. However, both are in the middle of the pack for their ease of getting a VA clinic or hospital appointment for primary care, and Idaho is 27th for the percentage of a veteran’s income required for housing. Wyoming significantly jumped from 21st in our 2021 report, while Idaho kept its same ranking.
- California is again the worst state for veterans. Golden State veterans need to spend more than 40% of their median income to afford median housing costs — the highest of any state. The state — which finished worst in our 2021 report, too — also has one of the smallest percentages of the population who are veterans, ranking 48th.
- The second-worst state for veterans — the District of Columbia — is last in three metrics and second-to-last in another. Vets make up the smallest portion of the population, have the highest poverty rate and report the most difficulty in getting primary care. New York joins California and D.C. in the bottom three overall.
Best state for veterans: South Dakota
South Dakota is the only state in which the veteran population hasn’t declined over the past five years, even if it’s remained the same.
Veterans make up 7.8% of the population in South Dakota — seventh-highest in the nation — and they’re staying put. Perhaps veterans stick around the Mount Rushmore State because of its performance across the other key metrics. Namely, it has four other top-five rankings, including:
- No. 2 for access to clinic/hospital care: 91.2% of veterans in the state report they’re always or usually able to get primary care when needed, based on the VA’s Access to Care database from April 2023 through September 2023.
- No. 3 for its veteran unemployment and poverty rates: Only 1.7% of veterans are unemployed in South Dakota, while just 5.6% live in poverty. These metrics directly impact quality of life, and only two states have comparable or better numbers in these categories (Wyoming and Idaho for unemployment, and New Hampshire and Maine for poverty).
- No. 5 for its housing costs as a percentage of income: Our study uses U.S. Census Bureau median housing costs and divides that by veterans’ median annual earnings for each state. In South Dakota, veterans use just 21.6% of their income to cover housing costs.
For the remaining metric, the Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, South Dakota ranks a respectable 20th. This composite metric is based on ratings of individual VA hospitals in each state, focusing on factors like inpatient and outpatient quality, hospital-acquired conditions and readmission rates.
Overall, South Dakota has consistently been a great place for veterans to live in the past few years, as it also ranked No. 1 in our 2021 report.
South Dakota by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 4.0 | 20 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 91.2% | 2 |
| Veterans as % of population | 7.8% | 7 |
| Change in # of veterans | 0.0% | 1 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 1.7% | 3 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 21.6% | 5 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 5.6% | 3 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
Next best states for veterans: Wyoming, Idaho
In addition to South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho round out the top three. Wyoming earns its spot mainly thanks to its standout perfect score for hospital quality and its almost nonexistent veteran unemployment rate.
Wyoming earned a 5.0 out of 5.0 hospital rating, while the unemployment rate is just 0.5%, making it No. 1 in both categories. The veteran poverty rate is also low (5.7%), good for fourth nationwide.
One factor preventing Wyoming from overtaking South Dakota at the top is the number of veterans in the state decreased by 13.8%. That said, Wyoming is still fourth in the nation in terms of veterans as a percentage of the population (8.7%).
Overall, Wyoming has made great strides in how it cares for its veterans, making a massive jump in rankings from No. 21 in our 2021 report to second this year.
Wyoming by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 5.0 | 1 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 86.3% | 25 |
| Veterans as % of population | 8.7% | 4 |
| Change in # of veterans | -13.8% | 29 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 0.5% | 1 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 21.9% | 6 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 5.7% | 4 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
The next best state for veterans is Idaho, which maintains its ranking (third) from the 2021 report. Along with Wyoming, Idaho has a perfect 5.0 star rating for hospital quality. This is an especially important consideration for veterans who may be permanently injured or have chronic conditions.
Idaho is third for its veteran unemployment rate, at just 1.7%. Where the state falls shortest is its No. 28 ranking for the percentage of veterans reporting adequate primary care access (83.9%).
Idaho by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 5.0 | 1 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 83.9% | 28 |
| Veterans as % of population | 7.6% | 11 |
| Change in # of veterans | -6.7% | 9 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 1.7% | 3 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 28.6% | 27 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 6.9% | 16 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
Worst state for veterans: California
Conversely, some states aren’t as affordable or have fewer resources for veterans than others. The study finds that California is the worst-ranked state. In fact, the Golden State lands in the bottom 10 for four of the metrics analyzed.
- California came in dead last (51st) for housing costs as a percentage of income. Veterans need a whopping 42.7% of their income to cover housing costs.
- California ranks 42nd for its veteran unemployment rate, which is 4.0%.
- Perhaps in part due to its 19.2% decrease in veteran population over five years (the eighth-largest drop), just 4.1% of the state’s population are veterans (fourth-lowest nationwide).
Hospital quality for veterans earned a 3.8 star rating, putting California in the bottom half of the rankings at 29th.
It’s worth noting that California also placed last in our 2021 report.
California by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 3.8 | 29 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 78.7% | 41 |
| Veterans as % of population | 4.1% | 48 |
| Change in # of veterans | -19.2% | 44 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 4.0% | 42 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 42.7% | 51 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 7.4% | 27 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
Next worst states for veterans: District of Columbia, New York
The District of Columbia has the second-worst ranking, followed by New York.
D.C. has the lowest percentage of veterans in its population at 3.2%, while also having the second-largest decline (25.0%) in veterans over the past five years. It’s no wonder when you consider that 10.9% of veterans are living in poverty in the capital — the highest in the nation.
Adding to its woes, D.C. also ranks last for the percentage of veterans who say they have adequate access to primary care (71.2%). Its saving grace is a super-low unemployment rate of 0.6%, second-lowest in the country. D.C.’s rank as second-worst for veterans remains unchanged from the 2021 report.
District of Columbia by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 3.0 | 37 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 71.2% | 51 |
| Veterans as % of population | 3.2% | 51 |
| Change in # of veterans | -25.0% | 50 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 0.6% | 2 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 31.0% | 33 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 10.9% | 51 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
New York’s placement in the bottom three has mostly to do with the cost of living. For instance, it costs veterans 37.3% of their income to cover housing costs (fifth-highest in the nation), and 8.6% of veterans in the Empire State are living in poverty (ranking 41st). The unemployment rate for veterans is also the sixth-highest (4.3%) in the nation. As such, only 3.6% of the New York population are veterans.
Despite VA hospitals only earning a 2.1 star rating out of 5.0, one bright spot for New York is that 88.9% of veterans report having access to primary care (sixth for that metric). However, that wasn’t enough to prevent New York from dropping in the rankings from 46th in the 2021 report to 49th this year.
New York by the numbers
| Metric | Score/percentage | U.S. ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating (out of 5.0) | 2.1 | 43 |
| % of veterans who report adequate ability to get primary care | 88.9% | 6 |
| Veterans as % of population | 3.6% | 49 |
| Change in # of veterans | -17.0% | 38 |
| Veteran unemployment rate | 4.3% | 46 |
| Housing costs as % of veteran income | 37.3% | 47 |
| Veteran poverty rate | 8.6% | 41 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
Full rankings
Best/worst states for veterans
| Rank | State | Average quality star rating | Access to care % | % of veterans | Change in # of veterans | Veteran unemployment rate | Housing costs as % of income | Veteran poverty rate | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 4.0 | 91.2% | 7.8% | 0.0% | 1.7% | 21.6% | 5.6% | 100.0 |
| 2 | Wyoming | 5.0 | 86.3% | 8.7% | -13.8% | 0.5% | 21.9% | 5.7% | 88.0 |
| 3 | Idaho | 5.0 | 83.9% | 7.6% | -6.7% | 1.7% | 28.6% | 6.9% | 77.6 |
| 4 | Montana | 4.0 | 83.4% | 8.9% | -5.3% | 1.9% | 26.7% | 6.4% | 77.2 |
| 5 | Virginia | 4.3 | 82.5% | 9.1% | -8.6% | 2.3% | 25.4% | 6.3% | 75.1 |
| 6 | Iowa | 5.0 | 90.2% | 6.5% | -12.8% | 2.5% | 24.9% | 6.8% | 74.7 |
| 7 | Nebraska | 5.0 | 88.6% | 6.6% | -15.6% | 2.2% | 26.4% | 6.7% | 71.8 |
| 8 | Vermont | 5.0 | 87.5% | 6.3% | -0.8% | 2.3% | 33.2% | 6.5% | 71.4 |
| 9 | Maine | 5.0 | 87.7% | 8.0% | -13.2% | 3.8% | 29.5% | 5.3% | 69.7 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | Not available | 87.0% | 7.5% | -8.7% | 2.0% | 35.6% | 5.1% | 68.6 |
| 11 | Alabama | 4.0 | 86.6% | 7.6% | -7.7% | 3.5% | 21.0% | 7.9% | 64.3 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 4.0 | 81.1% | 8.4% | -3.7% | 3.5% | 24.9% | 7.3% | 62.2 |
| 13 | North Dakota | 4.0 | 91.9% | 7.2% | -4.6% | 4.7% | 21.0% | 8.4% | 60.2 |
| 14 | Missouri | 4.3 | 87.6% | 7.1% | -11.2% | 2.5% | 26.9% | 7.7% | 58.1 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 4.5 | 83.2% | 7.7% | -11.3% | 3.0% | 23.7% | 8.9% | 54.8 |
| 15 | Utah | 5.0 | 86.9% | 4.4% | -8.9% | 2.8% | 31.5% | 7.0% | 54.8 |
| 17 | Indiana | 5.0 | 86.4% | 6.0% | -16.3% | 2.9% | 26.9% | 7.0% | 53.9 |
| 18 | Mississippi | 3.5 | 83.3% | 6.9% | -4.2% | 2.6% | 21.6% | 8.6% | 53.1 |
| 19 | Alaska | Not available | 78.3% | 10.5% | -17.1% | 3.8% | 25.6% | 5.7% | 49.7 |
| 20 | Ohio | 4.0 | 88.6% | 6.5% | -12.6% | 3.1% | 26.1% | 8.0% | 49.4 |
| 21 | West Virginia | 4.8 | 86.6% | 7.2% | -19.7% | 2.9% | 18.9% | 9.1% | 48.5 |
| 22 | Minnesota | 5.0 | 87.2% | 5.7% | -14.7% | 3.1% | 32.7% | 7.0% | 48.1 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 3.5 | 88.4% | 5.9% | -15.6% | 2.2% | 27.8% | 7.3% | 48.1 |
| 24 | Washington | 4.5 | 75.2% | 7.6% | -10.6% | 3.0% | 34.9% | 6.7% | 46.9 |
| 25 | Kentucky | 4.5 | 86.4% | 6.2% | -17.3% | 2.6% | 23.8% | 8.1% | 46.5 |
| 26 | North Carolina | 4.0 | 80.8% | 7.3% | -7.7% | 3.7% | 27.0% | 7.8% | 44.8 |
| 27 | Colorado | 4.5 | 75.0% | 7.2% | -10.3% | 3.3% | 35.0% | 6.0% | 41.5 |
| 28 | Tennessee | 3.0 | 81.9% | 7.1% | -7.9% | 2.8% | 26.1% | 8.5% | 41.1 |
| 29 | Maryland | 3.0 | 76.2% | 6.6% | -12.4% | 2.9% | 27.0% | 5.7% | 40.7 |
| 30 | Delaware | 4.0 | 77.3% | 7.5% | -8.1% | 3.9% | 31.3% | 7.1% | 38.6 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | 3.4 | 90.5% | 5.9% | -17.7% | 2.6% | 29.9% | 7.5% | 38.6 |
| 32 | Kansas | 5.0 | 86.1% | 6.4% | -19.7% | 5.0% | 25.9% | 7.1% | 36.5 |
| 33 | Arizona | 3.3 | 83.1% | 7.5% | -12.4% | 3.0% | 32.4% | 7.7% | 35.7 |
| 34 | Arkansas | 3.5 | 88.1% | 7.0% | -12.6% | 4.1% | 25.0% | 9.7% | 34.0 |
| 35 | Georgia | 2.0 | 77.9% | 7.2% | -0.2% | 3.7% | 29.5% | 7.8% | 32.4 |
| 35 | Texas | 3.4 | 78.3% | 6.1% | -2.8% | 3.5% | 30.6% | 7.4% | 32.4 |
| 37 | Hawaii | Not available | 83.5% | 7.5% | -20.0% | 3.7% | 37.9% | 6.1% | 29.9 |
| 37 | Nevada | 4.5 | 77.7% | 7.7% | -9.4% | 4.0% | 34.7% | 8.7% | 29.9 |
| 39 | New Mexico | 2.0 | 80.5% | 7.4% | -16.2% | 3.1% | 23.1% | 9.0% | 29.0 |
| 40 | Florida | 2.7 | 79.8% | 7.3% | -7.8% | 3.7% | 34.8% | 8.3% | 24.1 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | 4.0 | 90.4% | 4.1% | -20.0% | 3.8% | 40.1% | 7.3% | 22.0 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 1.0 | 86.6% | 4.5% | -27.9% | 2.4% | 34.3% | 7.2% | 19.1 |
| 43 | Michigan | 3.7 | 86.3% | 5.6% | -16.8% | 3.8% | 28.5% | 8.8% | 17.4 |
| 44 | Illinois | 3.0 | 86.1% | 4.7% | -17.9% | 3.5% | 30.2% | 8.5% | 14.1 |
| 45 | New Jersey | 1.0 | 87.6% | 3.6% | -16.1% | 4.7% | 38.1% | 6.6% | 12.9 |
| 46 | Oregon | 5.0 | 76.3% | 6.8% | -16.7% | 4.8% | 36.7% | 9.3% | 10.8 |
| 47 | Connecticut | 3.0 | 86.5% | 4.5% | -20.5% | 4.6% | 35.1% | 7.0% | 9.5 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 1.5 | 82.2% | 5.8% | -17.9% | 4.0% | 24.8% | 10.1% | 6.6 |
| 49 | New York | 2.1 | 88.9% | 3.6% | -17.0% | 4.3% | 37.3% | 8.6% | 5.0 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 3.0 | 71.2% | 3.2% | -25.0% | 0.6% | 31.0% | 10.9% | 2.9 |
| 51 | California | 3.8 | 78.7% | 4.1% | -19.2% | 4.0% | 42.7% | 7.4% | 0.0 |
Source: LendingTree analysis of various data sources.
4 money tips for veterans
One of the ways in which the nation tries to support veterans and thank them for their service is through special programs and financial incentives to help make life more affordable. Here are some money-saving strategies to consider if you’re a veteran.
- Take advantage of home lending products for veterans. VA loans can be great for those who qualify. “These loans are a way to help veterans become homeowners, and they typically come with no down payment, no mortgage insurance, capped closing costs and even lower-than-normal interest rates,” says Matt Schulz, LendingTree chief credit analyst. Work with a loan officer specializing in VA loans to review the eligibility details, fees and other aspects of the loan before applying.
- Look into veteran discounts and special services for military members. “There are plenty of options to help veterans with financial matters,” Schulz says. For example, he cites VetCents, which the nonprofit Military Family Advisory Network created to connect military veterans and their families with the information they need to better manage their financial situation. In addition, many businesses support veterans who sacrificed so much for our country, so keep that in mind when shopping for anything from car insurance to dining out to retail items. “Even if you don’t see something advertised, it’s always worth asking whether they offer discounts or special deals for veterans,” Schulz says. “There’s nothing to lose by asking, and you could wind up with some significant savings.”
- Use your veteran status when applying for credit. If you’re in the market for a credit card, military credit unions can be a strong option, Schulz says. “For example, federal credit unions, such as Navy Federal or PenFed, aren’t allowed to charge interest rates higher than 18% on credit cards. If you’re looking for a low-APR option, it’s hard to do better than a credit union,” he says. Military credit unions also have competitive bank accounts, personal loans and other financial products for veterans.
- Don’t be afraid to call your lender and ask for help. “If you’re struggling financially, don’t do it in silence,” Schulz says. Call your lender and let them know you’re in a rough patch and ask if there’s anything they can do to help. Most lenders offer so-called hardship programs to struggling borrowers and may even offer specialized help for veterans or military families. This could include temporarily lowered interest rates, deferred payments, waived fees or other adjustments. “However, you won’t get them if you don’t reach out. It may be hard to be that vulnerable, especially with someone you owe money to, but it’s important.”
Methodology
To rank the best and worst states for veterans, researchers analyzed data for the following seven metrics — all based on the latest available information:
- Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating. This composite metric looks at different scores across different rating categories, including inpatient and outpatient quality reporting, hospital-acquired conditions and readmission rates, among others. The metric was based on individual VA hospitals in each state and aggregated to get a number for the state. Alaska, Hawaii and New Hampshire didn’t have information available for this metric and weren’t scored for it. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Veterans Health Administration Provider Level Data, July 2024.
- Access to medical care. Percentage of veterans who report they’re always or usually able to get primary care when needed. The metric was based on individual VA clinics and hospitals in each state and aggregated to get a number for the state. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Access to Care database, April 2023 through September 2023.
- Veterans as a percentage of the population. U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey with one-year estimates.
- Change in the number of veterans. U.S. Census Bureau 2018 and 2023 American Community Surveys with one-year estimates.
- Veteran unemployment rate. U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey with one-year estimates.
- Housing costs as a percentage of veteran income. This is median housing costs divided by veterans’ median annual earnings. U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey with one-year estimates.
- Veteran poverty rate. U.S. Census Bureau 2023 American Community Survey with one-year estimates.
Analysts ranked each state in the metrics and then averaged each state’s ranking, with equal weight given to each. Analysts then assigned each state a score based on their average ranking.