BATON ROUGE — Governor Landry announced that Louisiana has climbed seven spots in WalletHub’s 2026 “Best States for Military Retirees” rankings, rising from No. 26 in 2025 to No. 19 this year. The jump places Louisiana among the nation’s most improved states for military retirees, driven by strong performance in affordability, quality of life (ranked No. 14 nationally), veteran community support, and access to services.
“Secretary Meginley and his LDVA team are delivering life changing opportunities for our military and veteran community,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Whether it’s climbing in national rankings for military retirees or seeing more veterans successfully accessing the benefits they’ve earned, Louisiana is building a state where those who served can thrive. This win reflects our commitment to veteran-friendly policies, quality of life, and economic opportunity.”
“Wallethub’s rankings prove that the initiatives and benefits the state has enacted to attract veterans to this state are having a generational impact on the state,” stated LDVA Secretary Charlton Meginley. Secretary Meginley further stated, “Arguably, Louisiana has a top five benefits package for its veterans, with generous tax exclusions, educational programs, and insurance discounts. When you further factor the $100 Billion dollars in capital investment Governor Landry and his team have brought into the state, creating thousands of jobs, Louisiana is a go-to destination for post-military life.”
Background:
At the same time, data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2026 Annual Benefits Report shows a 7.1% increase in Louisiana veterans receiving benefits in FY25, outpacing the national growth rate of 6.1%. Total recipients in Louisiana grew from 102,827 in FY24 to 110,084 in FY25. A key highlight from the VA Annual Benefits Report is an astounding 9.5% increase in Louisiana’s veterans using their education benefits — significantly higher than the national increase of 3.6%. Overall, the VA reports that 87,618 veterans are receiving over $2.5 Billion dollars in compensation and pension benefits, and for the second consecutive year the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and its partners, including programs like The Boot, which connects transitioning service members and their spouses to careers and opportunities across Louisiana, have greatly exceeded expectations in delivering benefits for the state’s veterans.
The WalletHub study evaluated all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key metrics, including job opportunities, housing affordability, healthcare access, and state support programs. Louisiana’s Top 20 ranking marks its strongest showing in recent years and signals growing momentum in veteran services.