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Overall Rating: 85/100 · 380,000 veterans (5.5% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against Massachusetts veterans-affairs and tax-authority sources.
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Massachusetts Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
100% exempt from state income tax (no age or income limits)
1.13% average effective rate
Modest fixed exemption (varies by town)
Clause 22: ~$400+ for 10%+; ~$1,000 at 100%; many towns double under the 2024 HERO Act. Full exemption only for paraplegic/SAH/blind. These are tax-$ reductions, not value.
Source ↗One vehicle exempt from 6.25% sales tax and annual excise tax for 100% disabled veterans with DV plates
$79,675
VA Medical Center
150 South Huntington Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 232-9500
Emergency care, primary care, mental health, surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurology, PTSD treatment, spinal cord injury care, blind rehabilitation
State Tuition Waiver
Veterans who are permanent and legal residents of Massachusetts; active duty stationed in MA
4-year value: $48,000
Median Home
$375,000
1BR Rent
$1,600/mo
COL Index
105
Unemployment
3.5%
Major employers: UMass Memorial Health Care, Saint-Gobain, Hanover Insurance, Polar Beverages
Pros: Most affordable major city, Vet Center on-site, growing job market, central location, Veterans Inc. housing/employment services
Cons: No on-site VA medical center (must drive to Boston), higher property taxes, some high-crime neighborhoods, harsh winters
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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Under M.G.L. Chapter 31, Section 26, veterans who pass a civil service exam receive 2 points added to their score and are ranked above non-veterans on the eligibility list; disabled veterans (10%+ service-connected rating) receive absolute preference and are placed at the top of the list.
Official source ↗The Executive Office of Veterans Services and MassHire Career Centers provide veterans priority-of-service job placement, training, and employment assistance for both public and private sector jobs.
Official source ↗MassWildlife issues free freshwater fishing and hunting licenses to residents who are blind, have paraplegia, or an intellectual disability, which includes qualifying disabled veterans, upon submission of the required certification.
Official source ↗Massachusetts resident veterans can have the word 'Veteran' printed on their driver's license or ID card at no added fee when applying, renewing, or getting a duplicate.
Official source ↗Veterans rated 100% disabled or unemployable by the VA are exempt from RMV registration and license fees, and DV-plated vehicles are exempt from sales and excise tax on one non-commercial passenger vehicle or pickup.
Official source ↗State-operated long-term care and domiciliary home for qualifying veterans; eligibility generally requires 90 consecutive days of active service (one during wartime) and an honorable discharge, or a Purple Heart / service-connected disability with lesser service.
Official source ↗State-operated veterans home providing long-term care; applicants must present a DD-214 and meet the qualifying service requirements to determine eligibility.
Official source ↗The Executive Office of Veterans Services pays a $2,500 annual annuity to certain disabled veterans, Gold Star parents, and unmarried surviving spouses of deceased veterans; effective July 1, 2025, surviving spouses may keep the annuity even after remarriage.
Official source ↗Under M.G.L. Chapter 115, eligible dependents and surviving spouses of deceased veterans may receive needs-based financial and medical benefits from their city or town, reimbursed by the state.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your Massachusetts Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.