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Overall Rating: 88/100 · 331,340 veterans (7.4% of population)
Full exemption of all military retirement pay with no age restrictions or dollar limits
2.3% average effective rate
Up to $100
No veteran sales tax exemptions
$180,896
VA Medical Center
5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295-1000
414-384-2000
Emergency care (24/7), primary care, mental health, surgery, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, rehabilitation, audiology, dental, vision, pharmacy, laboratory, imaging, women's health
State Tuition Benefit
Wisconsin resident veterans (90+ days wartime or 2+ years peacetime active duty) and dependents of 100% disabled/deceased veterans
4-year value: $52,584
Median Home
$400,000
1BR Rent
$1,650/mo
COL Index
108
Unemployment
2.8%
Major employers: Epic Systems, UW-Madison, State of Wisconsin, American Family Insurance, Exact Sciences, Sub-Zero Group, Madison VA Healthcare System
Pros: #3 nationally for veterans, highest veteran median income ($60,000), lowest veteran unemployment (2.8%), excellent VA medical center, top-tier UW-Madison with Wisconsin GI Bill, strong diverse job market, high quality of life, large veteran community (18,000+), safe
Cons: Highest housing costs in Wisconsin ($400,000 median), highest property taxes ($9,200/year), high rent ($1,797 average), cold winters with significant snow, liberal political environment, traffic congestion growing, competitive job market
Most veterans considering Wisconsin for relocation pair this with one of these next steps:
Compare side-by-side
Stack Wisconsin against the other 49 states on tax breaks, healthcare, and employment preferences.
Don't skip
State property tax exemptions kick in at specific rating tiers. Get your rating before you relocate.
Quick calculator
Determines which Wisconsin property tax tier you qualify for. 30 seconds.
Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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