What does this veterans ranking show?

It orders states by Share of civilian adults who are veterans. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Lowest veterans by state

Share of civilian adults who are veterans.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Civilian population 18 and over who have served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, as a share of the civilian adult population. It excludes people currently on active duty.

How to read this ranking

District of Columbia has the lowest published veterans in this comparison, at 4.0%. The next states shown are New Jersey (4.0%) and New York (4.0%).

The table orders 51 states by share of civilian adults who are veterans. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Civilian population 18 and over who have served on active duty in the U.S. armed forces, as a share of the civilian adult population. It excludes people currently on active duty.

1District of Columbia4.0%
2New Jersey4.0%
3New York4.0%
4Massachusetts4.6%
5California4.7%
6Utah4.9%
7Connecticut5.0%
8Illinois5.3%
9Rhode Island5.5%
10Michigan6.3%
11Minnesota6.3%
12Pennsylvania6.6%
13Louisiana6.7%
14Vermont6.7%
15Wisconsin6.7%
16Indiana6.8%
17Iowa7.0%
18Texas7.0%
19Kentucky7.1%
20Ohio7.2%
21Kansas7.5%
22Mississippi7.5%
23Nebraska7.6%
24Maryland7.8%
25Missouri7.9%
26North Dakota7.9%
27Oregon7.9%
28West Virginia7.9%
29Tennessee8.0%
30Arkansas8.1%
31Delaware8.2%
32Florida8.2%
33Georgia8.2%
34New Hampshire8.3%
35Colorado8.4%
36North Carolina8.4%
37Alabama8.5%
38Arizona8.7%
39Idaho8.7%
40South Dakota8.7%
41Washington8.7%
42New Mexico8.8%
43Nevada8.8%
44Oklahoma8.8%
45Hawaii8.9%
46Maine9.1%
47South Carolina9.3%
48Montana9.9%
49Wyoming10.0%
50Virginia10.8%
51Alaska12.3%

Related place rankings

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Share of civilian adults who are veterans. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

Put this map on your own site

Free to use. The chart names its source and links back, so it stays honest wherever it ends up.

<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/veterans" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Share of civilian adults who are veterans by state"></iframe>

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year. · How this is built

Loading MoverMath…