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 ($5,070) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,243 a month
New York City Department Of Education. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,388 a month
Bayonne City School District: 13 schools, 10,697 students, 12.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,482 a month
Elizabeth City School District: 37 schools, 28,334 students, 13.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,138 a month
Jersey City School District: 39 schools, 26,293 students, 12.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,699 a month
Hoboken City School District: 5 schools, 3,531 students, 14.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,478 a month
Union City School District: 14 schools, 12,797 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,644 a month
Newark City School District: 64 schools, 42,791 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,357 a month
Kearny Town School District: 7 schools, 5,435 students, 11.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,448 a month
East Orange City School District: 20 schools, 9,337 students, 14.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$3,292 a month
Clifton City School District: 19 schools, 11,010 students, 12.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
New York, NY is about 19 minutes from the main post area (6.9 road miles) without traffic.
Newark, NJ, where the Census median rent is $1,392 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 $5,070 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 Newark, NJ.
New York City Department Of Education, from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.