10 towns within about an hour of the main post area: drive time, rent, home values and the school district for each.
The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($3,963) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,515 a month
Oceanside Unified School District: 23 schools, 15,297 students, 22.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$462 a month
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (high school: Fallbrook Union High School District): 11 schools, 5,124 students, 21.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,391 a month
Capistrano Unified School District: 59 schools, 40,836 students, 21.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,658 a month
Oceanside Unified School District: 23 schools, 15,297 students, 22.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,710 a month
Vista Unified School District: 28 schools, 18,469 students, 21.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,158 a month
Carlsbad Unified School District: 16 schools, 10,832 students, 22.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,875 a month
Escondido Union Elementary School District (high school: Escondido Union High School District): 24 schools, 14,173 students, 17.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,643 a month
Bonsall Unified School District: 5 schools, 2,231 students, 22.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$809 a month
Irvine Unified School District: 45 schools, 37,731 students, 26.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,187 a month
Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (high school: Fallbrook Union High School District): 11 schools, 5,124 students, 21.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Camp Pendleton South, CA is about 16 minutes from the main post area (4.9 road miles) without traffic.
Fallbrook, CA, where the Census median rent is $1,786 a month (rent plus utilities, 2020-2024 average). New leases usually cost more than the median, so check current listings too.
For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $3,963 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 9 of the 9 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Fallbrook, CA.
Oceanside Unified School District, with 23 schools and 15,297 students (22.5 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.