Salute to service members

Texas is far from the best state for military veterans to retire

veteran military man saluting an American flag

Retired veterans in Texas only have it OK.

NewsFixNow.com

Texans might claim their state is the best for retired veterans, but a new WalletHub report places the Lone Star State at No. 28 in the U.S. when it comes to the "Best & Worst States for Military Retirees" in 2024.

The annual report examines all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on each state's capability of providing a comfortable lifestyle for our nation's military retirees.

Texas' middling rank earned it a score of 51.22 out of 100 total possible points, only 12.6 points off from South Carolina, which was named 2024's best state for military retirees.

The Lone Star State ranked No. 34 out of all 50 states in both the Quality of Life and Healthcare categories, and ranked No. 13 overall in the Economic Environment category.

More specifically, Texas has the fifth highest number of VA health facilities per number of veterans. But the quality of those health facilities only warranted a mediocre No. 30 rank out of all 50 states, illustrating that Texas has some work to do to improve its veteran healthcare. Separately, Texas scored No. 13 in the ranking for the highest number of Veteran Benefits Administration (VBA) facilities per number of veterans.

Here's the breakdown of Texas' other military retirement rankings:

No. 20 – Percentage of veteran-owned businesses
No. 22 – Housing affordability
No. 28 – Percentage of homeless veterans
No. 35 – Veteran job opportunities
No. 43 – Veterans per captia

Retired veterans in Texas looking for a better retirement quality of life would be better off in No. 1-ranking South Carolina, which doesn't enact a tax on military pensions (like Texas), but has many policies and programs in place to aid veterans in their retirement.

"Transitioning from military to civilian life isn’t easy, but the best states for military retirees make that adjustment as smooth as possible," said WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe. "In addition to providing the conditions necessary for our veterans to thrive financially, they also have ample resources for taking care of military retirees’ physical and mental health."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, retiring veterans should steer clear from Oregon (No. 51), New Mexico (No. 50), Vermont (No. 49), the District of Columbia (No. 48), and Nevada (No. 47), which were all ranked the worst states for military retirees in 2024.

The top 10 best states for military retirees are:

No. 1 – South Carolina
No. 2 – Florida
No. 3 – Virginia
No. 4 – Maryland
No. 5 – North Dakota
No. 6 – Minnesota
No. 7 – Alaska
No. 8 – Connecticut
No. 9 – New Hampshire
No. 10 – South Dakota

WalletHub determined its rankings by analyzing all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 metrics in three key dimensions: Economic Environment, Quality of Life, and Healthcare. Factors that helped determine each state's score include the state tax on military pensions (if applicable), the share of veterans not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the quality of VA hospitals, and more.

The full report can be found on wallethub.com.

texas rankings wallethub veterans

Nick and Nora news

Dallas takes steps to protect White Rock Lake eaglets as they learn to fly

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Visitors to White Rock Lake may notice new restrictions and barricades near a bald eagle nesting area, as three eaglets begin learning to fly.

According to a release from the City of Dallas, Dallas Park and Recreation is monitoring the eagle couple, affectionately nicknamed "Nick and Nora" by local residents, closely because they now have three young eaglets ready to take flight. (While their exact location is widely known, down to the very tree, this CultureMap story is not going to disclose it out of an abundance of caution for the fragile family.)

The city is asking area visitors to keep noise levels low and dogs on leashes near the nest.

The release says water-filled barricades are in place along East Lawther Drive between the playground and the Dreyfuss split, temporarily affecting vehicle access in the area. Drivers should expect short delays, and cyclists are being asked to slow down nearby. The playground near the nesting zone is also temporarily closed.

Officials say the Dreyfuss area, White Rock Trail, and Lake Highlands Drive will remain open for walking and biking.

The three eaglets are in a developmental phase known as “branching,” when young bald eagles begin leaving the nest and learning to fly. During this period, the eaglets may be seen on the ground or perched in lower tree branches.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials say this is a particularly sensitive stage because the young birds can appear injured or distressed as they develop their flying skills. Adult eagles may also become more protective during this time.

"Keeping a safe distance helps prevent problems for both the eagle family and park visitors," park officials say.

Dallas Park and Recreation is coordinating with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the eagle family, the release says.

Bald eagles have been spotted near the lake since at least 2019, and have returned in subsequent years to make a nest in the area.

After nearly disappearing decades ago from most of the United States, the bald eagle population is now flourishing across the nation.

Bald eagles are protected under federal law. Disruption of their natural activities is prohibited and a violation of the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A violation can result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year, or both.

parks conservation white rock lake animals

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Dallas takes steps to protect White Rock Lake eaglets as they learn to fly