Where to live

Where to live near Keesler AFB

10 towns within about an hour of the main post area: drive time, rent, home values and the school district for each.

Town centers and the main post area. Dot size is population.

Quick answers

ClosestD'Iberville16 min drive

Biggest nearbyGulfport73,003 people

Lowest median rentGautier$1,040 a month

Most E-5 BAH left overGautier$660 over a 2-bedroom

10 towns, closest first

Towns around Keesler AFB

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($1,602) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

D'Iberville, MS

16 min drive · 5.8 road mi

Median rent: $1,249
2 bedrooms: $1,250
3 bedrooms: $1,318
Home value: $210,100
People: 13,203
Homes rented: 41%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$352 a month

Harrison County School District: 24 schools, 14,299 students, 15.1 students per teacher. District facts

Biloxi, MS

22 min drive · 7.8 road mi

Median rent: $1,089
2 bedrooms: $1,005
3 bedrooms: $1,241
Home value: $225,100
People: 48,861
Homes rented: 50%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$597 a month

Biloxi Public School District: 10 schools, 5,764 students, 13 students per teacher. District facts

St. Martin, MS

22 min drive · 7.6 road mi

Median rent: $1,231
2 bedrooms: $1,254
3 bedrooms: $1,350
Home value: $172,400
People: 8,139
Homes rented: 46%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$348 a month

Jackson County School District: 14 schools, 8,936 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts

Latimer, MS

27 min drive · 12 road mi

Median rent: $1,122
2 bedrooms: $1,072
3 bedrooms: $1,037
Home value: $189,400
People: 6,756
Homes rented: 18%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$530 a month

Jackson County School District: 14 schools, 8,936 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts

Gulf Hills, MS

27 min drive · 10.9 road mi

Median rent: $1,401
2 bedrooms: $1,412
3 bedrooms: $1,550
Home value: $203,700
People: 8,451
Homes rented: 29%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$190 a month

Jackson County School District: 14 schools, 8,936 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts

Ocean Springs, MS

28 min drive · 11.9 road mi

Median rent: $1,358
2 bedrooms: $1,262
3 bedrooms: $1,533
Home value: $259,400
People: 18,646
Homes rented: 31%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$340 a month

Ocean Springs School District: 7 schools, 5,808 students, 13.7 students per teacher. District facts

Gulfport, MS

30 min drive · 11.2 road mi

Median rent: $1,086
2 bedrooms: $1,063
3 bedrooms: $1,233
Home value: $174,600
People: 73,003
Homes rented: 45%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$539 a month

Gulfport School District: 11 schools, 6,084 students, 13.7 students per teacher. District facts

Gulf Park Estates, MS

34 min drive · 15.3 road mi

Median rent: $1,320
2 bedrooms: -
3 bedrooms: $1,489
Home value: $212,500
People: 6,264
Homes rented: 18%

E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$282 a month

Ocean Springs School District: 7 schools, 5,808 students, 13.7 students per teacher. District facts

Long Beach, MS

37 min drive · 17.5 road mi

Median rent: $1,215
2 bedrooms: $1,102
3 bedrooms: $1,364
Home value: $215,200
People: 17,009
Homes rented: 34%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$500 a month

Long Beach School District: 5 schools, 2,897 students, 14.6 students per teacher. District facts

Gautier, MS

40 min drive · 23.9 road mi

Median rent: $1,040
2 bedrooms: $942
3 bedrooms: $1,096
Home value: $166,400
People: 19,046
Homes rented: 33%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$660 a month

Pascagoula-Gautier School District: 19 schools, 6,501 students, 11.8 students per teacher. District facts

Where these numbers come from

Towns: every town, city and census place of 1,000 or more people within about an hour's drive, from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Drive time: from each town's center to the main post area on OpenStreetMap roads, without traffic, so rush hour runs longer.
Rent, home value, renters: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 medians. They include long-time renters and utilities, so new leases usually cost more. Use them to compare towns, and the HUD rent on the BAH page for today's level.
Schools: the public district that covers each town's center, with size from the NCES Common Core of Data (2023-24). Confirm the school for a specific address with the district.

Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.

Keesler AFB base guide Keesler AFB BAH Other bases

FAQ

Living near Keesler AFB

What is the closest town to Keesler Air Force Base?

D'Iberville, MS is about 16 minutes from the main post area (5.8 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near Keesler Air Force Base?

Gulfport, MS, with about 73,003 people, 30 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near Keesler Air Force Base has the lowest rent?

Gautier, MS, where the Census median rent is $1,040 a month (rent plus utilities, 2020-2024 average). New leases usually cost more than the median, so check current listings too.

Does BAH cover rent near Keesler Air Force Base?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $1,602 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 Gautier, MS.

What school district serves D'Iberville?

Harrison County School District, with 24 schools and 14,299 students (15.1 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.