Which state is better for veterans — New York or California?
There's no universal answer; the better state depends on your priorities. Below are the factors that most often decide the question.
If you're a military retiree
Both retirement income tax and property tax matter most in retirement. New York does not tax military retirement pay, while California taxes military retirement pay (california taxes military retirement pay as ordinary income — one of the few states that still does.). On property, New York offers a partial property tax reduction, and California offers a partial property tax reduction.
If you have school-age children
New York's headline program is the Veterans Tuition Awards (VTA) & MERIT Scholarship — New York's VTA pays full SUNY/CUNY undergraduate tuition for eligible NY veterans of combat zones. The MERIT Scholarship covers full tuition, room/board, books for children/spouses of NY service members killed/disabled from combat duty post-Aug 2, 1990. California's is the CalVet College Fee Waiver — Waives mandatory system-wide tuition and fees at any California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus for qualifying dependents of disabled or deceased veterans. Multiple plans (A, B, C, D) cover different family situations.
If you're still on active duty
Proximity to a major installation matters for housing markets, healthcare options (Tricare), and post-service employment networks. New York hosts 4 significant installation(s) including West Point (USMA), Fort Drum, Watervliet Arsenal.California hosts 8 including Camp Pendleton, MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Naval Base San Diego.
Climate and lifestyle
New York: Climate varies — humid continental upstate with snowy winters, milder mid-Atlantic conditions downstate. California: Climate varies dramatically — Mediterranean coast, hot Central Valley, alpine Sierra Nevada, desert south.