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Overall Rating: 88/100 · 135,000 veterans (5.8% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against Utah 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 Utah Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
100% exempt from state income tax (since 2021)
0.6% average effective rate
Up to ~$505,548 of value (× rating %)
Abatement = rating % × statutory max (~$505,548 taxable value, 2025, indexed). Minimum 10%. Effectively full for most homes at 100%.
Source ↗No veteran-specific exemptions (6.1% state)
$100,000
VA Medical Center
500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148
(801) 582-1565
24/7 emergency, surgery, mental health, PTSD, specialty care
Tuition assistance
Utah veterans qualify for tuition assistance at state schools
4-year value: $16,000
Median Home
$585,000
1BR Rent
$1,300/mo
COL Index
105
Unemployment
2.6%
Major employers: Hill Air Force Base, University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, tech sector
Pros: VA medical center, tax-free military retirement, scaled property tax exemption, outdoor recreation
Cons: Rising housing costs, high property taxes for non-disabled
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$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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For initial Utah state employment, veterans get 5 preference points (or 5%) added to passing exam/ranking scores, and disabled veterans or Purple Heart recipients get 10 points (or 10%); spouses/surviving spouses may receive the qualifying veteran's points.
Official source ↗The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources offers discounted hunting, fishing, or combination licenses to Utah-resident veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 20% or greater, verified by VA certification.
Official source ↗Utah State Parks issues a free annual Honor Pass giving day-use entry to Utah State Parks for a qualified Utah-resident, honorably discharged veteran with a service-connected disability, plus up to seven guests in the same vehicle.
Official source ↗A Disabled Veteran plate is available to veterans with a service-connected disability for a one-time $15 fee and no renewal fee, requiring a certifying letter from the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs or a U.S. military entity (this plate does not waive registration fees).
Official source ↗Utah operates four state veterans homes — William E. Christoffersen (Salt Lake), George E. Wahlen (Ogden), Central Utah (Payson), and Southern Utah (Ivins) — for eligible veterans; spouses and Gold Star parents are also eligible, though the VA does not subsidize their care.
Official source ↗The disabled-veteran property tax abatement (based on disability percentage, up to a set maximum taxable value) is available to the veteran's unmarried surviving spouse or minor orphans under the same terms.
Official source ↗Utah provides a full property tax exemption on the primary residence for the surviving spouse and minor orphans of a service member killed in the line of duty.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your Utah Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.