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 ($2,874) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,398 a month
Anchorage School District: 94 schools, 43,363 students, 17.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,609 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,696 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,695 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,700 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,587 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,880 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$883 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,119 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,555 a month
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District: 49 schools, 19,421 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson base guide Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson BAH Other bases
Anchorage, AK is about 50 minutes from the main post area (29 road miles) without traffic.
Palmer, AK, where the Census median rent is $1,125 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 $2,874 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 Butte, AK.
Anchorage School District, with 94 schools and 43,363 students (17.9 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.