Why Military Retirees Really Don’t Want to Live in Michigan

Michigan isn’t the worst state for military retirees – that would be California –but it’s no where near Wyoming, which tops a new ranking from a social media company whose lists are intended to help guide followers through a labyrinth of online financial products.

Michigan came in 45th on WalletHub’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees. The ranking uses comparable data from 50 states and the District of Columbia on 18 key metrics – ranging from taxes on military benefits to veteran job opportunities – that collectively speak to the economic environment, health care services and overall quality of life in each area.

     The 10 Best                                   The 10 Worst

     1. Wyoming                                      42. Arkansas

     2. New Hampshire                            43. Rhode Island

     3. Montana                                       44. Oregon

     4. South Dakota                                45. Michigan

     5. Nebraska                                       46. Pennsylvania

     6. Alaska                                           47. Illinois

     7. Delaware                                       48. Arizona

     8. Kansas                                           49. Indiana

     9. Oklahoma                                       50. New York

     10.Maine                                            51. California

Citing the Congressional Research Service, the authors of the study said the average officer is only 45.2 years old when he or she retires from service – and enlisted personnel are even younger 41.4 years old.

Other key takeaways:

• Many retirees are still in the job market, and recent Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans in particular may have assimilation issues

• Rising numbers of veterans are encountering hardship and homelessness

• Many of today’s veterans find themselves at the juncture of critical public policy issues – nationa security, an aging population and a prodigious national debt – that could affect military retirees’ benefits.