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 ($2,556) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$340 a month
Clover Park School District: 33 schools, 12,395 students, 16.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$254 a month
Steilacoom Historical School District: 8 schools, 3,039 students, 18.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$81 a month
Clover Park School District: 33 schools, 12,395 students, 16.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$946 a month
Clover Park School District: 33 schools, 12,395 students, 16.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$795 a month
Steilacoom Historical School District: 8 schools, 3,039 students, 18.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$890 a month
Franklin Pierce School District: 15 schools, 7,296 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$827 a month
Bethel School District: 39 schools, 21,539 students, 18.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$780 a month
Tacoma Public Schools: 69 schools, 28,272 students, 17.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$764 a month
University Place School District: 8 schools, 5,606 students, 19.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$719 a month
Federal Way School District: 46 schools, 21,818 students, 18 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord base guide Joint Base Lewis-McChord BAH Other bases
Fort Lewis, WA is about 4 minutes from the main post area (1.6 road miles) without traffic.
Tacoma, WA, with about 222,758 people, 26 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Lakewood, WA, where the Census median rent is $1,525 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 $2,556 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 Lakewood, WA.
Clover Park School District, with 33 schools and 12,395 students (16.2 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.