Montana Ranked One Of The Worst States For Military Retirees

Montana Ranked Low For Military Retirees In New Study

Living in Montana, it’s hard not to feel connected to the military in one way or another. Between places like Malmstrom Air Force Base and the number of veterans spread across the state, military life has always been part of the culture here.

So seeing Montana rank near the bottom in a new study of the best states for military retirees might catch some people off guard.

WalletHub Study Ranks Best States For Retired Military Members

A recent report from WalletHub put Montana near the bottom when it comes to the best places in America for retired military members.

That’s pretty shocking when you consider Montana has the second-highest number of veterans per capita, with nearly 1 in 13 residents having served in the military.

On top of that, Montana has the third-most VA health facilities per veteran, which makes you think we’d land much closer to the top of the rankings than the bottom.

So what hurt us?

Why Montana Ranked So Low For Military Retirees

Honestly, I think a lot of it comes down to economics and job opportunities. The states that ranked the highest tend to have programs that encourage businesses to hire veterans or help veterans start businesses of their own.

What’s also kind of ironic is that even with all those VA facilities, Montana still ranked near the bottom when it came to healthcare.

All in all, landing at #45 overall feels a little disappointing for a state that seems to take so much pride in supporting those who served.

You can check out the full rankings and methodology from WalletHub here.