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Overall Rating: 78/100 · 120,000 veterans (8.9% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against West Virginia 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 West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
Full exemption - 100% of military retirement income exempt from state income tax since 2019
0.55% average effective rate
Full (refundable credit, 90%+)
90–100% P&T: refundable state income-tax credit = full property tax paid on homestead (since 2024). Nothing below 90%.
Source ↗No sales tax exemptions for veterans
$74,680
VA Medical Center
200 Veterans Avenue, Beckley, WV 25801
304-255-2121
Primary care, mental health, cardiology, surgery, emergency care 24/7
Tuition Benefit
Any veteran with general discharge or better, regardless of state of origin
4-year value: $72,320
Median Home
$267,000
1BR Rent
$1,000/mo
COL Index
89
Unemployment
3.2%
Major employers: West Virginia University (6,100), WVU Medicine (21,700), Mylan Pharmaceuticals, FBI CJIS
Pros: Best job market in WV, excellent schools, vibrant college town, low unemployment, diverse economy, growing population
Cons: Highest housing costs in WV, traffic congestion, student-dominated areas, limited airport access
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$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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Under W. Va. Code, honorably discharged veterans get 5 points added to a passing state civil-service exam score; disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients receive an additional 5 points, up to a maximum of 10.
Official source ↗Resident veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected VA rating, a VA specially adapted vehicle grant, or former POW status qualify for free Class Q hunting/fishing and Class QQ trapping licenses.
Official source ↗Veterans with a 100% permanent and total service-connected disability or a VA specially adapted vehicle grant receive a Disabled Veteran plate with no registration fee on one vehicle (small insurance/litter fees apply); the application must be certified by the WV Department of Veterans Assistance.
Official source ↗The state operates a 120-bed skilled-nursing facility in Clarksburg and an independent/assisted-living Veterans Home in Barboursville; honorably discharged veterans who served 12 months, are VA-eligible, and pass a pre-admission physical may apply (surviving spouses may also apply).
Official source ↗Children (ages 16-25) of West Virginia service members who died as a result of wartime military service receive tuition and fee waivers plus a capped room, board, and books stipend at West Virginia public postsecondary institutions.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your West Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.