Those currently in the military can face obstacles they may not be ready for when they retire. They have to consider whether the state they decide to spend their time as a retiree in is right for them.

Housing, taxes, and overall quality of life play a huge role in veterans’ decisions. 

The step back into civilian life can be daunting, especially considering economic shifts and potential changes to retiree benefits that vary from state to state.

So, where does South Carolina stand in all of this?

WalletHub ran a study ranking all 50 states based on the best and worst choices for military retirees. If you or someone in your family is a military retiree or is planning to retire soon, we recommend taking a peek at this list.

Measuring Military Retiree Data     

The study assembled by WalletHub looks at data related to military retirees across all 50 states.

They gathered a variety of data, breaking it down into three categories:

• Economic standings
• Quality of life
• Health care

WalletHub ranked the articles based on total score, with a higher score indicating a state is better for military retirees.

In contrast, lower scores for the three category ranks (economic environment, quality of life and health care) indicate better conditions for retirement.

In those cases, “1” means a state is the best in its category, and “51” means it’s the worst. The reason why some of the rankings have “51” instead of “50” is that WalletHub included Washington, D.C., in its rankings.

These are the best and worst states for military retirees, starting with the states that are the friendliest toward veteran retirees.

Flip through the slideshow to find out where your state stands.

States’ Military Numbers

South Carolina is the best state for military retirees. One factor helping a state’s ranking is how many veterans reside within its borders.

When it comes to which state has the highest number of veterans, South Carolina comes in at number six. Texas is first on that list, with approximately 1.4 million veterans. 

With 15 total military bases, South Carolina has a large active military population. The Palmetto State comes in eighth on a list of states with the most active duty personnel.

Hawaii comes in first with approximately 42,000 personnel across 49 military bases. 

Which States Tax More

Military retirees receive monthly benefits that certain states tax.

The states of California, Montana, Rhode Island, Utah, and Vermont are where military retirement pay is taxed to its fullest, which is understandably a hurdle for many retirees. 

Eight states have no state income tax and don’t tax military benefits, while 26 states have state income tax but don’t fully tax those benefits.

The number one state for military retirees, South Carolina, is one of 11 states where military benefits are only partially taxed. 

A Divergence

One factor that potentially plays a key role in military retirees’ lives is access to veteran medical facilities.

Access to healthcare tied to their military benefits makes a huge impact on retirees’ health.

Reportedly, California has the most VA hospitals in the U.S., with 103 facilities. However, California ranked the tenth-worst in the nation for military retirees to reside in.

Northern State Ranks Lowest

Oregon has the unfortunate distinction of being the worst state for military retirees. In determining the ranking, the quality of veteran affairs facilities and hospitals makes a difference. 

Reportedly, one of Oregon’s largest VA hospitals ranks low in terms of quality.

The Portland VA hospital received a score of 2 out of 5, according to the U.S. Veterans Affairs system. 

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After-school time in North Carolina looked a whole lot different in the 1950s than it does today. There were no smartphones to scroll through, no streaming shows waiting to autoplay, and no video games with headsets and online battles.

Instead, kids stepped off the school bus or walked home and dove into a world of simple fun, homemade routines, and good old-fashioned imagination.

Some activities built responsibility, while others were just plain fun—but all of them helped shape a generation.

To today’s younger crowd, many of these pastimes sound downright strange. But for kids growing up in the ’50s, they were just part of everyday life.

Hanging Out at the Soda Fountain

In the 1950s, after-school hangouts didn’t happen in digital group chats or on streaming apps — they happened at the local soda fountain.

Usually tucked into the corner of a drugstore or a five-and-dime like Woolworth’s, these places were a teen’s paradise. Red vinyl stools lined the counter, and a soda jerk in a crisp white cap knew how to whip up the perfect cherry Coke, vanilla malt, or banana split.

Teenagers would crowd around the counter after the last school bell rang, sharing jukebox nickels and gossiping about who passed their driver’s test or who got caught chewing gum in class.

It was a simpler time when Friday night plans were made right there at the counter, often over a thick milkshake with two straws. Flirting wasn’t done with emojis — it was a wink over a phosphate drink.

To modern kids, the idea of sitting for an hour without a phone and just sipping soda sounds like something from a black-and-white movie.

But in small towns across America, the soda fountain was the beating heart of youth culture.

Listening to Radio Dramas

Long before YouTube channels and on-demand TV, kids hurried home after school to gather around the family radio.

Shows like The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, and The Shadow brought thrilling adventures to life with nothing but sound. At exactly 5:30 p.m., children would sit cross-legged on shag rugs, eyes closed, imagining masked heroes chasing bandits through dusty canyons.

These weren’t just background noise — they were full productions with dramatic music, clinking spurs, creaky doors, and eerie echoes.

Families might pause dinner prep just to catch the latest cliffhanger episode. Kids knew which night The Adventures of Superman aired and would argue on the playground about whether Clark Kent could beat Captain Midnight.

For today’s younger generation raised on 4K visuals and skip buttons, the idea of being glued to a speaker with no screen seems almost impossible.

But for children in the 1950s, those fifteen-minute radio shows offered entire worlds, spun from thin air and good storytelling.

Joining School Clubs Like Future Homemakers of America

After the final bell, many girls headed straight to the Home Ec classroom for Future Homemakers of America (FHA) meetings. This national club wasn’t just a pastime — it was a serious organization with uniforms, competitions, and leadership roles.

Members practiced skills like darning socks, making tuna casseroles, and setting formal dinner tables — complete with polished silver and cloth napkins.

In towns from Des Moines to Savannah, high school gyms would host FHA banquets where teens showed off their best Jell-O molds or handmade aprons. There were regional bake-offs, etiquette lessons, and even state conventions.

One month you might be learning to plan a week’s meals on a tight budget; the next, you’d be sewing a summer dress for the county fair.

For kids today, whose school clubs revolve around the likes of coding robots, this kind of domestic training seems almost alien.

But in the 1950s, FHA was taken seriously—not as a hobby, but as preparation for adulthood.

Playing Board Games Around the Kitchen Table

When the homework was finished and the dinner dishes were dried and stacked, families in the 1950s often gathered around the kitchen table to play dominoes or board games. There was no need for Wi-Fi, controllers, or screens — just a game box, a bowl of popcorn, and maybe a little sibling rivalry.

Favorites like Monopoly, Clue, and Sorry! turned ordinary evenings into hours of fun, complete with groans over bad dice rolls and cheers when someone finally won.

Candy Land was a must for the younger crowd, while older kids loved the strategy behind Checkers or the clever deduction in Clue. A rainy afternoon could stretch into an all-out tournament, complete with scorekeeping on the back of a napkin.

Even card games like Old Maid or Go Fish had their place, especially during power outages or weekend sleepovers.

To today’s tech-savvy kids, a board game might seem slow or even boring. But in the 1950s, these games were how families connected.

There was something special about leaning over the table, battling it out with paper money or plastic pawns, and ending the night with laughter that echoed through the house.

Walking Home… Miles, Uphill (Sort Of)

In the days before carpool apps and yellow school buses on every corner, most kids simply walked home. Rain or shine, they slung canvas bookbags over their shoulders and headed down gravel roads or cracked sidewalks, chatting with friends or kicking pebbles along the way.

Some lived a few blocks from school; others trekked nearly two miles, past corner stores, gas stations, and backyard clotheslines.

In rural areas, the walk home might involve crossing a wooden footbridge or cutting through a neighbor’s pasture. In cities, it meant weaving through bustling downtown streets where storeowners knew everyone by name.

Either way, it was a chance to decompress after school—without earbuds or playlists.

Today’s kids often expect a ride from school to their front door, sometimes with a stop at Starbucks in between.

But in 1950s America, that daily walk home was just another part of growing up—and a quiet moment in a world that didn’t rush so fast.

Playing with BB Guns and Slingshots

A common after-school sight in the 1950s was a group of boys roaming the woods or empty lots, BB guns slung over their shoulders or slingshots tucked into back pockets. They set up tin cans on fence posts and aimed with the same focus others saved for spelling tests.

Brands like Daisy Red Ryder were legendary — made famous by cowboy shows and comic books.

Parents didn’t hover. They gave a simple rule: “Don’t shoot toward the house.”

Safety goggles weren’t a thing, and targets were often whatever stood still long enough. Some kids even carved their own slingshots from tree branches and inner-tube rubber. There was pride in crafting something from scratch—and getting it to hit a target.

Today, toy weaponry is usually neon-colored and foam-tipped, and outdoor play is often replaced by gaming consoles.

But in the 1950s, aiming at a soda can with a BB gun was just about the best way to blow off steam after a long school day.

Helping With Chores—a Lot of Them

As soon as they walked in the door, many 1950s kids swapped schoolbooks for chore lists. There were potatoes to peel, porches to sweep, and firewood to stack.

In homes without dishwashers, drying plates was a nightly task. On Saturdays, that list got even longer: lawn mowing, window washing, and cleaning out the garage.

Many boys helped their fathers fix cars or paint the fence, while girls might bake dinner rolls with their mothers or starch their father’s work shirts.

It wasn’t about earning extra allowance—it was about pulling your weight. Skipping chores meant facing stern consequences, not short timeouts from social media.

In today’s world of Roombas and air fryers, household chores don’t look quite the same.

But for kids in the 1950s, helping around the house was part of the rhythm of daily life—and a lesson in responsibility that stuck for decades.

Attending Church Youth Groups in Formal Clothes

Wednesday evenings meant one thing in many small towns: youth group night at church. But it wasn’t jeans and pizza — it was slacks, dresses, and hymn books.

Boys slicked back their hair, and girls wore their Sunday shoes, even on a weekday. There were no bouncy castles or LED lights — just folding chairs, felt board Bible stories, and maybe a sing-along on the church piano.

Activities ranged from planning bake sales to organizing Christmas pageants. Sometimes kids stuffed envelopes for missionary mailings or practiced their part in an Easter program.

There were handshake contests, scripture memorization challenges, and always, a quiet sense of reverence.

To a modern teen, a youth group without Wi-Fi and video games might sound like punishment.

But in the 1950s, these gatherings were where friendships were built, crushes bloomed, and values were passed down from one generation to the next.

Fixing Up Their Own Bikes

A bicycle wasn’t just a ride—it was freedom on two wheels. And in the 1950s, if something went wrong, you didn’t wait for Dad to fix it. You got out your wrench and did it yourself.

Kids knew how to grease a chain, patch a tire, and realign a wobbly wheel. Some even gave their bikes a custom look with playing cards clipped to the spokes or baseball cards woven through the frame.

Bike shops were for serious repairs. Everyday stuff — a broken pedal, loose handlebars — was handled in the driveway, sometimes with the help of an older sibling or a library book.

Brands like Schwinn and Columbia ruled the streets, and chrome fenders gleamed like trophies.

Modern kids might ride scooters with Bluetooth speakers or electric bikes with phone chargers, but the pride of fixing your own ride, hands smeared with grease and all, was a rite of passage in mid-century America.

Practicing the Piano, Whether You Wanted To or Not

It seemed every other house in the 1950s had an upright piano — usually in the living room and usually covered in sheet music.

After school, kids were expected to sit down and practice, whether they dreamed of playing Carnegie Hall or dreaded every note. Scales came first, then maybe “Für Elise” or “The Blue Danube.”

Piano teachers often lived down the block, with rulers ready to tap misbehaving fingers.

Recitals were serious business — girls in white gloves, boys with slick hair and clip-on ties. Parents proudly snapped photos with box cameras, no matter how shaky the performance.

Today, apps can teach you to play with flashing lights and virtual keys. But in the 1950s, it was just you, the metronome, and a stern reminder to “sit up straight.”

Music wasn’t optional—it was a symbol of culture, discipline, and doing something hard just because it mattered.

Sitting Quietly and Reading a Book

Before screens lit up every corner of life, books were a kid’s best friend. After school, children curled up with Hardy Boys mysteries, Nancy Drew case files, or Tom Swift’s wild adventures.

Some reread Charlotte’s Web or Little House in the Big Woods, while others got lost in encyclopedias just for the fun of learning.

Library cards were treasures. The smell of a freshly borrowed book, the stamp on the checkout slip, the quiet rustle of turning pages — it was all part of the experience.

Reading was both entertainment and escape. A kid in Ohio could visit the Wild West or ancient Egypt without ever leaving the couch.

To many of today’s kids, reading for fun seems like a chore.

But for those who grew up in the 1950s, it was a beloved after-school tradition—and a doorway to the imagination that didn’t require electricity or a charger.

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Remember racing your banana-seat bike down the block of your New Hampshire town with a comic book in your back pocket and a jaw full of Bazooka gum?

Back in the 1960s, candy wasn’t just a treat—it was part of growing up.

Whether you were blowing giant bubbles, licking neon sugar off your fingers, or trading sweets at lunch, these sugary treasures were woven into every New Hampshire boy and girl’s life.

Candy Buttons

There was something oddly satisfying about peeling those long strips of candy buttons off the paper and popping them into your mouth. The little dots were pastel-colored—usually pink, blue, and yellow—and lined up in neat little rows like sugary soldiers.

They didn’t have much flavor, just a sweet little pop, but they were fun to eat and lasted forever.

You never got all the dots off clean. There was always a little paper stuck to the back, and you just shrugged and ate it anyway. No kid was wasting good candy over a scrap of paper.

If you were really careful, you could roll the whole strip up and snack on it slowly while watching cartoons or riding in the back seat on a long trip.

Candy Buttons weren’t about taste—they were about time. They stretched out your candy moment, gave you something to fiddle with, and made your fingers all sticky.

And somehow, that made them perfect.

Lik-M-Aid Fun Dip

Before it became Fun Dip, this powdered treat was known as Lik-M-Aid, and it was a sticky, messy masterpiece. It came in tiny paper pouches filled with brightly colored sugar dust.

At first, kids would just dip a wet finger in and lick it clean—again and again—until their hands were a rainbow of sugar stains.

Then came the game-changer: the Lik-A-Stix. That little chalky white stick was a marvel. You’d dip it into the flavored powder—grape, cherry, or lime—and lick it until the stick was smooth and flat.

It turned candy into a delightful process. The whole thing felt like a sugary science experiment you got to eat.

And the best part for super young kids?

The powder always ended up everywhere. On your shirt, in your desk, maybe even in your hair. It was chaos, sure—but it was the good kind of chaos. The kind you remember years later and smile about.

Pixy Stix

Remember tearing the top off a Pixy Stix and tilting your head back like a pro? Just one pour of that powder and—bam!—your taste buds got hit with a sugar blast that made your eyes water in the best way.

The powder was packed in skinny paper straws, usually in bright colors that matched the fruity flavors. Grape, orange, cherry.

None of them tasted like actual fruit, but boy, did they taste like fun.

Sometimes a kid would get their hands on a jumbo Pixy Stix—the kind made out of plastic tubing that looked like it came from a science lab. You’d guard it like treasure. That thing was currency on the playground, worth at least five trades at lunchtime.

Sure, your tongue turned weird colors and your fingers got sticky, but that was part of the deal.

No one worried too much about sugar back then. It was the ’60s.

You rode your bike without a helmet, drank from the garden hose, and ate pure flavored sugar straight from a straw. Life was good.

Wax Lips

These were the ultimate joke candy. You didn’t buy wax lips because you were hungry. You bought them because they were hilarious.

Pop a pair of those oversized, cherry-red lips into your mouth, flash a goofy grin at your friends, and wait for the laughter.

Sometimes they came with fangs or goofy teeth, which made them perfect for Halloween—or just everyday mischief.

The wax itself was flavored, sort of. Kind of fruity, mostly chewy, and definitely not something you wanted to swallow. But ’60s kids chewed on them anyway, working the wax like bubblegum until it got too soft or just plain weird.

Most of the time, you spit it out before finishing the walk home from the store.

What made wax lips so special was the way they turned every kid into a comedian. You’d pose for your friends, stick out your chin, and do your best monster impression.

It was cheap fun that made you laugh so hard your stomach hurt.

Necco Wafers

Necco Wafers were already an old-timer by the time ’60s kids came around, but they still had a spot in every candy store and grandma’s purse. They came in a wax-paper roll and looked like little pastel poker chips.

The flavors were hit or miss—cinnamon, clove, chocolate, lemon—but there was always a favorite or two in every pack.

They crumbled a little when you bit into them, but they didn’t melt or get sticky, which made them perfect for saving. You could keep one in your coat pocket for days and it’d still be good.

Some kids even liked stacking them and crunching them down in one bite. Others liked to savor them slowly, one by one.

Necco Wafers weren’t flashy, and they didn’t come with jokes or gimmicks. But they had a quiet charm.

They felt grown-up, like something you’d eat while listening to the radio or helping Dad wash the car.

Charleston Chew

Now this was a treat that felt like it lasted forever. The Charleston Chew came in vanilla, strawberry, or chocolate nougat, all wrapped in a smooth chocolate coating. It was chewy—really chewy. If you had braces, well, good luck.

But that didn’t stop kids in the ’60s from tearing into one after school or at the movies.

The real magic happened when you put it in the freezer. Once it got cold, it would snap into pieces like candy glass, and each bite was a crunchy little miracle.

You’d nibble it slowly, letting it melt on your tongue while you flipped through your comic books or watched Gilligan’s Island reruns.

Named after a dance from way before our time, Charleston Chews still managed to feel fun and modern back then.

It was a candy that worked hard—chewy when you wanted it, crunchy when you needed it, and always worth the mess.

Chunky

Ah, Chunky—the little chocolate block that was small but mighty. It wasn’t flashy, but it packed a punch with thick squares of rich milk chocolate loaded with peanuts and raisins.

It was the kind of candy bar you held with both hands and broke apart like it was something sacred.

Chunky felt like a treat you graduated to. It wasn’t for trading on the playground—it was for savoring. Maybe you’d pick one up at the five-and-dime after church, or maybe it was in your lunchbox next to a thermos of milk.

Either way, it always hit the spot.

And the wrapper! That shiny silver foil with bold red letters made it feel like a real prize. You didn’t eat a Chunky while running around. You sat down, peeled it open, and gave it your full attention.

It was that kind of candy.

Tootsie Rolls

Tootsie Rolls were everywhere in the 1960s. Halloween bags, birthday party piñatas, the bottom of your mom’s purse—they just showed up.

Those chewy chocolate bites had a flavor all their own, somewhere between fudge and caramel, and they lasted a good long while if you didn’t chew too fast.

They came in different sizes, from tiny nibbles to big fat rolls wrapped in yellow, red, and blue paper. The best part? They didn’t melt in the sun like chocolate did, which made them the perfect summer candy.

Toss a few in your pocket, hop on your bike, and off you’d go without a care in the world.

Tootsie Rolls were dependable. Not too fancy, not too sweet—just right. They were a candy you could always count on, and even now, you can find this beloved candy in many grocery stores.

Bazooka Bubble Gum

You could spot a piece of Bazooka a mile away. That little pink square was wrapped in waxy paper, and inside, along with the gum, you’d find a tiny comic strip starring Bazooka Joe.

Sure, the jokes were corny, but ’60s kids read them anyway—every single one.

The gum itself was tough as nails at first. You had to chew it like you meant it. But once it softened up, it gave you big, beautiful bubbles. The kind that popped all over your face and got stuck in your hair.

If you were really lucky, you could blow one big enough to cover your whole nose.

Bazooka wasn’t just gum—it was entertainment. You got a laugh, a chew, and a challenge all in one. It was the total package for a kid with a nickel and some time to kill.

Root Beer Barrels

If you loved root beer (and who didn’t?), then Root Beer Barrels were like little drops of heaven. Hard candies shaped like tiny wooden barrels, they had that sweet, spicy flavor that reminded you of soda fountains and summer nights.

They were slow-melting, which made them last forever. You could tuck one in your cheek during a long car ride or suck on it during math class (if the teacher wasn’t looking).

Some kids liked to crunch them once they got soft, but the real pros knew how to make a barrel last.

They weren’t the flashiest candy on the shelf, but they had soul.

Root Beer Barrels were for kids who liked the simple pleasures: a warm breeze, a smooth tune on the radio, and a good candy in your pocket.

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