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 ($2,184) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$815 a month
Cheney School District: 13 schools, 5,658 students, 17.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,391 a month
Medical Lake School District: 4 schools, 1,861 students, 15.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$910 a month
Spokane Public Schools: 69 schools, 28,586 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$938 a month
Cheney School District: 13 schools, 5,658 students, 17.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,120 a month
Spokane Public Schools: 69 schools, 28,586 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,027 a month
Mead School District: 17 schools, 10,410 students, 17.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$877 a month
Central Valley School District: 32 schools, 14,721 students, 17.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$890 a month
Mead School District: 17 schools, 10,410 students, 17.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$437 a month
Central Valley School District: 32 schools, 14,721 students, 17.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,274 a month
Mead School District: 17 schools, 10,410 students, 17.9 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Airway Heights, WA is about 16 minutes from the main post area (5.8 road miles) without traffic.
Spokane, WA, with about 230,293 people, 26 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Medical Lake, WA, where the Census median rent is $785 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 $2,184 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 10 of the 10 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Medical Lake, WA.
Cheney School District, with 13 schools and 5,658 students (17.2 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.