SC is the best state for military retirees, new study says. Here’s what makes it great
After serving in the military, veterans often struggle to find a place to settle down that offers the necessary facilities, quality of life and opportunities that guarantee a comfortable life.
There are more than 15 million military veterans in the U.S., and they often face more struggles than other citizens, such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), disability and homelessness. If a state lacks resources to help veterans, these issues become even more prominent.
That’s why WalletHub, a personal finance company, released a study comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify the best states for military retirees across the country.
“Transitioning from military to civilian life isn’t easy, but the best states for military retirees make that adjustment as smooth as possible,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst.
Their study used a data set of 28 key metrics, ranging from veterans per capita to the number of VA health facilities to job opportunities for veterans.
And there’s good news for South Carolina military retirees: The Palmetto State was named the 2026 Best State for Military Retirees.
Here’s why the state ranked so high up:
What makes SC great for military retirees?
Several factors put SC at the top of the ranking. The state’s quality of life for veterans is notable, with excellent VA hospitals and a great economic environment. Also, South Carolina doesn’t tax military pensions.
Here are the other qualities that put SC at the top of the list:
- Percent of veteran-owned businesses: 1st
- Economic environment rank: 2nd
- Quality of life rank: 3rd
- Quality of VA hospitals: 4th
- Veterans per capita: 7th
- Veteran job opportunities: 7th
- Health care rank: 10th
- Number of VA Benefits-Administration Facilities per Number of Veterans: 10th
WalletHub commented on SC being named the best state for 2026:
“South Carolina is the best state for military retirees, in part because it has many policies in place to help veterans,” said a WalletHub analyst. “The state allows businesses to give preferential hiring to veterans, offers academic credit for military service, and has veteran treatment courts, which provide services like treatment and mentoring to veterans in the criminal justice system.”
The SC Department of Veterans’ Affairs also acknowledged the ranking. This is what they said on their website:
“This recognition shows that our efforts to support the Veterans, service members, and military families make a measurable impact. Policies like preferential hiring for Veterans, academic credit for military service, and programs for justice-involved Veterans mean there is support no matter what a Veteran’s next chapter looks like.”
You can see all the department has to offer here.
What SC needs to work on
Even though SC was ranked the best place to be for veterans in the country, the study pointed to some facts that the Palmetto State needs to work on.
One of the most glaring issues is the number of homeless veterans in the state. SC ranks 15th in the country for its percentage of homeless veterans.
SC’s housing affordability isn’t terrible, but it’s not the greatest either, ranking 25th in the country.
The biggest issue the study provided was that SC has the 4th fewest VA health facilities per number of veterans.