Salute to service members

Texas earns middling rank in new list of best states for military retirees

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

small rides; big impact

METRO rolls out electric shuttles for downtown Houston commuters

The all-electric microtransit shuttle fleet is expanding into downtown

Photo provided by Metro Transit Authority of Harris County

METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock and Mayor John Whitmire pose with a microtransit shuttle

The innovative METRO microtransit program will be expanding to the downtown area, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County announced on Monday.

“Microtransit is a proven solution to get more people where they need to go safely and efficiently,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “Connected communities are safer communities, and bringing microtransit to Houston builds on my promise for smart, fiscally-sound infrastructure growth.”

The program started in June 2023 when the city’s nonprofit Evolve Houston partnered with the for-profit Ryde company to offer free shuttle service to residents of Second and Third Ward. The shuttles are all-electric and take riders to bus stops, medical buildings, and grocery stores. Essentially, it works as a traditional ride-share service but focuses on multiple passengers in areas where bus access may involve hazards or other obstacles. Riders access the system through the Ride Circuit app.

So far, the microtransit system has made a positive impact in the wards according to METRO. This has led to the current expansion into the downtown area. The system is not designed to replace the standard bus service, but to help riders navigate to it through areas where bus service is more difficult.

“Integrating microtransit into METRO’s public transit system demonstrates a commitment to finding innovative solutions that meet our customers where they are,” said METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock. “This on-demand service provides a flexible, easier way to reach METRO buses and rail lines and will grow ridership by solving the first- and last-mile challenges that have hindered people’s ability to choose METRO.”

The City of Houston approved a renewal of the microtransit program in July, authorizing Evolve Houston to spend $1.3 million on it. Some, like council member Letitia Plummer, have questioned whether microtransit is really the future for METRO as the service cuts lines such as the University Corridor.

However, the microtransit system serves clear and longstanding needs in Houston. Getting to and from bus stops in the city with its long blocks, spread-out communities, and fickle pedestrian ways can be difficult, especially for poor or disabled riders. While the bus and rail work fine for longer distances, shorter ones can be underserved.

Even in places like downtown where stops are plentiful, movement between them can still involve walks of a mile or more, and may not serve for short trips.

“Our microtransit service is a game-changer for connecting people, and we are thrilled to launch it in downtown Houston,” said Evolve executive director Casey Brown. “The all-electric, on-demand service complements METRO’s existing fixed-route systems while offering a new solution for short trips. This launch marks an important milestone for our service, and we look forward to introducing additional zones in the new year — improving access to public transit and local destinations.”

transportation downtown metro houston

Salute to service members

Texas earns middling rank in new list of best states for military retirees

small rides; big impact

METRO rolls out electric shuttles for downtown Houston commuters

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