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 ($2,358) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,173 a month
Harrison School District 2: 28 schools, 12,024 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$766 a month
Widefield School District 3: 18 schools, 9,377 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,092 a month
Fountain School District 8: 13 schools, 7,885 students, 16.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$763 a month
Colorado Springs School District 11: 58 schools, 22,740 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$888 a month
Manitou Springs School District 14: 4 schools, 1,238 students, 12.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$910 a month
School District 49: 30 schools, 24,867 students, 18.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$94 a month
Academy School District 20: 39 schools, 25,674 students, 15.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$128 a month
Academy School District 20: 39 schools, 25,674 students, 15.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,786 a month
Lewis-Palmer School District 38: 10 schools, 6,405 students, 17.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$394 a month
Woodland Park School District RE-2: 6 schools, 1,903 students, 14.1 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Stratmoor, CO is about 7 minutes from the main post area (3.6 road miles) without traffic.
Colorado Springs, CO, with about 487,887 people, 21 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Manitou Springs, CO, where the Census median rent is $1,283 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 $2,358 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 Monument, CO.
Harrison School District 2, with 28 schools and 12,024 students (15.5 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.