New Study Ranks Connecticut as 2026’s Worst State For Veterans

A new study has just been released that ranks the best and worst states for veterans in 2026, and Connecticut has come in at the very bottom of the list.

Smilehub.org has just released Best Staes for Veterans in 2026 and according to their research Connecticut ranks at #50, as in the worst. In order to determine their rankings of the states that best take care of their veterans, SmileHub compared the 50 states across three key dimensions: Veterans Community Support, Veterans Health and Wellness, and Veterans Employment and Finances.

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Those dimensions were further evaluated using 21 relevant metrics: Share of Veterans, Share of Homeless Veterans, Educational Opportunities for Veterans, Veteran Charities per capita, Share of VA Benefits-Administration Facilities and Health Facilities per Veteran Population, Share of Veteran-Owned businesses, Disabled Veterans Property Tax Exemption, and State Tax on Military Pension.

Overall Connecticut ranked as the worst state for Veterans in 2026. SmileHub determined that Connecticut ranked last in Veteran Community Support, #44 in Veteran Health & Wellness, and #46 in Veteran Employment & Finances. Connecticut was also found to rank #46 in Most Veterans Charities per capita, and had the third-worst Veteran Unemployment Rate in the country.

None of our neighbors did well in SmileHub.org's rankings, Pennsylvania was ranked at #10, Maine at #16, New Hampshire at #24, New York at #30, Massachusetts at #32, and Rhode Island and Vermont at #45-46. Idaho was Connecticut's neighbor down at the bottom at #49. The Best states for Veterans in 2026 according to SmileHub.org - Virginia, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, and Maryland. My dad was a Veteran of the US Army, and I heard many horror stories regarding the VA Hospital in West Haven growing up.