By Harrison Burge — Realtor® licensed in Missouri & Arkansas, U.S. Air Force Veteran, and Ozarks transplant who works with buyers making this same decision.
Why not consider life after the military in the Ozarks?
You gave your country 20 years (or more) of service. You moved eight or nine times — at least — during those two decades.
Now, your uniform is hung up. You earned a pension for life.
But you’ve also got plenty of life ahead of you. And now it’s time to call somewhere home.
So, the questions are: What’s next? And where is next?
For that second question, more veterans are finding an answer in the Ozarks.
The math works out well here in the Ozarks. Low home prices. Land that’s still affordable. Less spending across the board. More money in your pocket.
But good decisions aren’t made on a spreadsheet alone.
Because the place also has to feel right. The people. The culture. A community that cares. A love of America that shows. Somewhere that respects your service and gives you opportunities in your next chapter. Somewhere that it makes sense to plant roots.
Sound good to you? Then read on. And keep southern Missouri or northern Arkansas on your short list.
Why Life After the Military in the Ozarks Makes Financial Sense
Life after the military in the Ozarks can be a great financial move.
To start, housing costs are low.
For example, in parts of the Ozarks, you can pay less than $150,000 than the nationwide median price. Which means a cost savings of several hundred to about $1,000 — or even more — just in monthly mortgage payments.
Also, property taxes in southern Missouri and northern Arkansas are below national averages.
In rural Ozarks counties, the property tax rate is even lower. Wright County, Missouri has an effective property tax rate of just 0.34%. That means property taxes on that median priced home are just a few hundred dollars per year.
And utilities in a rural home cost a fraction of what they run in a metro area.
Of course, if you’d like to use your VA loan to buy a home, you’ll keep more in your pocket. You can choose zero money down. And regardless of the down payment, there’s no private mortgage insurance (PMI). So, more of your money is paying down the loan’s principal, not wasted in fees.
Now, put all this together. And imagine your life after the military in the Ozarks.
Your monthly housing and living costs in the Ozarks could be a fraction of almost anywhere else in America.
And the Ozarks savings continues: Neither Missouri nor Arkansas tax military retirement pay at the state level. The same goes for VA disability income. Also, both states don’t tax Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP), either.
That’s a lot of financial sense.
Thinking about making a move to the Ozarks?
The free Relocation Starter Kit walks you through everything serious buyers need to know — which area fits your lifestyle, what your budget actually buys, what to check before you tour any property, and a step-by-step moving timeline from decision to keys in hand.
On-the-ground knowledge you won’t find in a standard relocation guide.
A Vets’ Potential Life After the Military in the Ozarks
Your pension gives you a floor.
Income from there is up to you. Here are some options for your life after the military in the Ozarks:
Second Careers and Remote Work
Some veterans have skills that translate to the civilian economy.
Logistics, cybersecurity, project management, intelligence analysis, and healthcare are a few examples.
Vets with these technical skills can get remote work jobs. Your military pension plus remote work income would be a nice life in the Ozarks. Plus, you’re not spending any money commuting. So, there’s more savings.
And remote work opens up the rural Ozarks — where your dollar goes even further.
A decade ago, remote work wasn’t possible in the rural Ozarks. But rural internet access has improved. Wisper Internet and Starlink now serve large portions of the Ozarks.
GI Bill and Education
Veterans with remaining GI Bill eligibility can pursue education or retraining while drawing their pension.
This is a significant opportunity for veterans who want to pivot into a new field — law, healthcare, the trades, business — without the financial pressure that civilian career changers face.
Entrepreneurship
Veterans bring discipline, systems thinking, and leadership to business ownership.
The Ozarks has room for small businesses that serve both locals and the growing population of people relocating to the region.
The barriers to entry are lower here than in most markets.
And the area’s low cost of living gives veterans time to make things work.
Homesteading and Land-based Life
For veterans who spent 20 years being told what to do, there’s something about owning land and building a self-sufficient life.
It resonates in a way that’s hard to put into words. Until you’ve lived it.
The Ozarks is well-suited for homesteading. There’s affordable land, a manageable climate, and a culture that values self-sufficiency. Growing food, raising animals, building something with your hands on land that’s yours.
A homesteading life after the military in the Ozarks could be just what you want.
This is a full topic on its own. And I’ll cover it in-depth in the future. But it deserves a brief mention here because it’s a real path that a number of veterans are choosing.
When you’re ready to start looking at properties, here’s how we’d work together.
Life After the Military in the Ozarks — a Cultural Fit for Veterans
Financial freedom is a big part of your overall freedom.
And veterans also need a place that feels right. The Ozarks delivers on that, too.
The outdoor lifestyle here — hunting, fishing, hiking, float trips on Ozarks rivers — lines up with some veterans’ vision of post-military life.
The community culture understands military service.
Active veterans service organizations (VSO) chapters, a significant veteran population, and an orientation toward the values veterans carry — hard work, directness, self-reliance. This make the Ozarks feel familiar.
The pace is slower. That takes adjustment for some veterans. The tempo of military life doesn’t switch off overnight. And the quiet of a rural Ozarks community can feel disorienting before it feels like relief. The adjustment takes time. But veterans find that once it clicks, they stop wanting to go back.
The space is real. Land is affordable. Neighbors aren’t on top of you.
And VA healthcare resources are accessible. Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Springfield, Branson, and West Plains in Missouri. And in Harrison, Arkansas for veterans in the northern Arkansas Ozarks. Routine VA care doesn’t require a three-hour drive.
Life after military in the Ozarks isn’t a compromise.
For the veterans who make this move, it’s the destination they didn’t know they were aiming for the whole time.
Thinking about making a move to the Ozarks?
The free Relocation Starter Kit walks you through everything serious buyers need to know — which area fits your lifestyle, what your budget actually buys, what to check before you tour any property, and a step-by-step moving timeline from decision to keys in hand.
On-the-ground knowledge you won’t find in a standard relocation guide.
How to Start Your Life After the Military in the Ozarks
The financial case is clear. The lifestyle case is real. The practical question is how to get there.
Start with your financing.
Your VA loan benefit is still intact after retirement — zero down, no private mortgage insurance (PMI), and lower rates than conventional mortgages.
If you’re buying in a rural area outside of Springfield, see if you’re eligible for a USDA loan.
Both VA and USDA loans are covered in detail in our VA loan article and our USDA loans for veterans article. Read those and know your options.
The Ozarks makes sense for veterans — here’s how to make sure it’s right for you
You’ve done enough research to know the Ozarks makes sense. Now comes the harder part — which town, which property, and what does your VA loan budget actually get you here?
The free Relocation Starter Kit walks you through the rural vs. suburbs decision, what your budget buys across the Ozarks, what to check before you tour any rural property, and a step-by-step moving timeline from decision to keys in hand. Plus a town-for-you quiz and two printable worksheets. Built for out-of-area buyers making this exact move — including fellow veterans.
On-the-ground knowledge from an Air Force veteran and Realtor® who relocated here himself.
Frequently Asked Questions About Life After the Military in the Ozarks
Does a military pension go far enough to live on in the Ozarks?
It depends on your highest military rank and lifestyle needs. If you’re a retired field grade officer (O-4 to O-6) or higher, your pension could cover your expenses due to the Ozarks’ lower housing costs, low property taxes, and below-average utilities. But if you retired as an enlisted service member, even with the Ozarks’ low cost of living, you’ll likely need additional income to cover monthly expenses. And regardless of your rank, VA disability income — which isn’t taxed in Arkansas or Missouri, just like military pensions — could help supplement your military retirement income.
What do veterans actually do with their time after retiring to the Ozarks?
The range is wide. Hunting, fishing, and hiking fill a lot of days for veterans. Some pursue a second career or remote work. Others go back to school on the GI Bill. Some start a business. Some homestead. And others do all of the above. The Ozarks gives you the space and the low cost of living to figure it out without financial pressure.
Is the Ozarks a good place to raise a family after the military?
Yes. The cost of living is low, communities are tight-knit, and the outdoor lifestyle is family-friendly. For veterans moving with children, the region offers good schools, safe communities, and the kind of environment where children have room to be outside.
Is Missouri a tax-friendly state for military retirees?
Missouri does not tax military retirement or disability pay at the state level, which adds up over time.
Is Arkansas a tax-friendly state for military retirees?
Arkansas does not tax military disability or retirement pay at the state level, which adds up over time.
What does homesteading look like in the Ozarks for veterans?
The Ozarks is well-suited for homesteading, with affordable land, a manageable climate, and a regional culture that favors self-sufficiency. Growing food, raising animals, and building toward a more independent life resonates with a lot of veterans.
How does the veteran community in the Ozarks compare to a military town?
The Ozarks doesn’t have the density of a base town. But it has a significant veteran presence, active veterans service organization (VSO) chapters, and a community culture that understands and respects military service.
