Maryland ranks seventh for military retirees, with South Carolina topping the list. WalletHub, a financial services company, assesses states based on job and economic opportunities, quality of life, and medical services for veterans.
The top ten states for retirees include South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, North Dakota, Minnesota, Alaska, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and South Dakota. Criteria for job opportunities include the share of veteran-owned businesses, tax treatment of military pensions, job availability, and support for businesses giving veteran hiring preference. Maryland ranks 17th in this category.
Quality of life factors include food assistance, homelessness among veterans, quality of public universities, and recreational opportunities. Maryland ranks first here.
Medical services criteria include veteran suicide rates, availability of treatment courts, mental health counselors, VA facilities, and quality of VA hospitals. Maryland ranks 32nd in this category.
Data for this ranking comes from various sources including the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Military Officers Association of America, and WalletHub research. For more information on WalletHub’s study, click here.
