South Carolina ranks No. 1 for military retirees. Here's what to know

South Carolina was named the 2026 Best State for Military Retirees in a new WalletHub study comparing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The Palmetto State stood out for its veteran-friendly policies, tax benefits and quality of life, though it still has work to do in some areas.

FULL STORY: SC is the best state for military retirees, new study says. Here’s what makes it great

Here are key takeaways:

• WalletHub used 28 key metrics to rank states, from veterans per capita to VA health facilities and job opportunities for veterans. South Carolina topped the 2026 list.
• The state does not tax military pensions and offers strong VA hospitals and a favorable economic environment for retired service members.
• South Carolina lets businesses give preferential hiring to veterans, offers academic credit for military service and runs veteran treatment courts that provide treatment and mentoring to veterans in the criminal justice system.
• The SC Department of Veterans’ Affairs said the ranking shows its efforts to support veterans, service members and military families “make a measurable impact.”
• The study flagged weak spots: South Carolina ranks 15th for its percentage of homeless veterans, 25th for housing affordability and has the 4th fewest VA health facilities per number of veterans.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.