Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Most Veterans
Nearly 17 million Americans are military veterans, and their geographic distribution is shaped by the locations of major military installations, VA healthcare facilities, and retirement destinations. Alaska, Montana, and Virginia consistently have the highest veteran population shares. Virginia's high ranking reflects the concentration of military bases and defense employers around the Norfolk and Hampton Roads areas plus proximity to the Pentagon. States like Alaska and Montana attract veterans with their outdoor recreation, lower costs of living, and veteran-friendly communities. The veteran population has significant implications for healthcare demand (especially mental health and disability services), housing needs, education (GI Bill usage), and workforce development. States with high veteran percentages invest more in VA healthcare facilities, veteran employment programs, and housing assistance.
Key Findings
- 1Alaska leads with a veteran population percentage of 11.0%, followed by Virginia (9.6%) and Montana (9.4%).
- 2The gap between #1 Alaska and #51 District of Columbia (3.8%) is 7.2 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 7.4% (Missouri at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Alaska, Virginia, Montana, Wyoming, Maine, South Carolina, Nevada, Idaho, Oklahoma, New Mexico.
Full Ranking: States With Most Veterans
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Veterans % | Population | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 9.2% | 579,761 | 38.8 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 6.4% | 5,892,023 | 40.1 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 7.7% | 1,784,462 | 42.7 |
| 4 | Washington | 8.1% | 7,740,984 | 38.2 |
| 5 | Virginia | 9.6% | 8,657,499 | 38.8 |
| 6 | Vermont | 6.5% | 645,254 | 43 |
| 7 | Utah | 4.8% | 3,331,187 | 31.7 |
| 8 | Texas | 6.4% | 29,640,343 | 35.5 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 7.5% | 6,986,082 | 38.9 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 8.1% | 899,194 | 37.7 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 8.5% | 5,212,774 | 40.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 5.3% | 1,095,371 | 40.5 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 6.4% | 12,986,518 | 40.9 |
| 14 | Oregon | 7.5% | 4,238,714 | 40.1 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 8.2% | 3,995,260 | 36.9 |
| 16 | Ohio | 6.8% | 11,780,046 | 39.6 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 7.4% | 779,361 | 35.7 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 7.6% | 10,584,340 | 39.1 |
| 19 | New York | 3.9% | 19,872,319 | 39.6 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 8.2% | 2,114,768 | 39.2 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 4.0% | 9,267,014 | 40.1 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 7.9% | 1,387,834 | 43.2 |
| 23 | Nevada | 8.3% | 3,141,000 | 38.9 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 7.2% | 1,965,926 | 37.1 |
| 25 | Montana | 9.4% | 1,105,072 | 40.2 |
| 26 | Missouri | 7.4% | 6,168,181 | 38.9 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 6.9% | 2,951,438 | 38.4 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 6.1% | 5,713,716 | 38.6 |
| 29 | Michigan | 6.1% | 10,051,595 | 40.1 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 4.5% | 6,992,395 | 40 |
| 31 | Maryland | 7.0% | 6,170,738 | 39.3 |
| 32 | Maine | 8.7% | 1,377,400 | 44.8 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 6.2% | 4,621,025 | 37.8 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 6.8% | 4,510,725 | 39.1 |
| 35 | Kansas | 7.0% | 2,937,569 | 37.2 |
| 36 | Iowa | 6.8% | 3,195,937 | 38.6 |
| 37 | Indiana | 6.5% | 6,811,752 | 38 |
| 38 | Illinois | 5.0% | 12,692,653 | 38.9 |
| 39 | Idaho | 8.3% | 1,893,296 | 37.1 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 8.1% | 1,445,635 | 40.6 |
| 41 | Georgia | 7.4% | 10,822,590 | 37.4 |
| 42 | Florida | 7.7% | 21,928,881 | 42.6 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 3.8% | 672,079 | 34.9 |
| 44 | Delaware | 7.8% | 1,005,872 | 41.5 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 4.9% | 3,598,348 | 41.2 |
| 46 | Colorado | 7.7% | 5,810,774 | 37.5 |
| 47 | California | 4.5% | 39,242,785 | 37.6 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 7.6% | 3,032,651 | 38.4 |
| 49 | Arizona | 8.1% | 7,268,175 | 38.8 |
| 50 | Alaska | 11.0% | 733,971 | 35.6 |
| 51 | Alabama | 7.9% | 5,054,253 | 39.3 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Alaska has the highest veteran population percentage at 11.0%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Virginia and Montana round out the top three.
District of Columbia has the lowest veteran population percentage at 3.8%. New York is second-lowest at 3.9%.
The median across all 51 states is 7.4%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.