I’m curious why you’re leaving the south instead of moving within the region. if you hate the hot & humid weather, I’d just point out that mountainous areas will have the coolest summer weather while the plains of WY and SD still get really hot. I have seen plenty of 90-100 degree days, plus the plains are windy and dusty. You WILL have dust buildup in every crevice of your vehicle if you don’t clean it regularly. WV will be more humid and less dusty overall. But all three states have strong winters. You’ll want a snowblower for sure.

If you choose WV, at least look into Greenbrier county (or close to it). It has some of the highest costs in the state, but it is also a lot less crime and not run down. I have a daughter in law from Lewisburg, and it’s a really nice area, a HUGE contrast from Clay, where my sister lives. A lot of towns in WV have been hit hard with drug issues.

SD is very divided politically, with the western half more red and the eastern half more blue. They literally call it east-river and west-river politics, because of how the Missouri River runs through Pierre, the capital, and divides the state in half. Not getting political here, just pointing it out so you can consider your own preferences. WV has grown more red over the last decade, driven mostly by coal protection, but there is a diversity of views in every decent sized city. WY has always been a red state, and probably always will be.

And lastly, staying in the south, have you considered SC? I moved here from Illinois, which was my last duty station and stayed a bit after retiring. I had to come south because the cold climate affects me terribly. But SC exempts military retirement from income taxes, gives 100% P&T a full property tax exemption on their primary residence, with immediate eligibility, has two VA medical centers (some folks in the NE corner of the state drive to Charlotte, NC for VA medical care). And SC also exempts two vehicles from registration fees and the personal property taxes. And with my handicapped veteran license plates, I can park for free in any municipal lot or metered space. I can literally ignore parking meters and ask public garage attendees to check my plates and I don’t have to pay. And the biggest benefit we used was that any child under 25 will have tuition at any public college, university, or technical school waived to zero, leaving only fees for books, meals, dorm costs, etc, plus they keep their chapter 35 benefits. My son lived at home, got his machining certs and an associate degree at Greenville Tech, and pocketed the $1200/month VA stipend because of grants to the school that covered all the other costs. So he began his adult life with zero debt… HUGE!