Where to live

Where to live near MCAS Beaufort

7 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

ClosestBeaufort16 min drive
Biggest nearbyPort Royal15,579 people
Lowest median rentRidgeland$734 a month
Most E-5 BAH left overRidgeland$1,723 over a 2-bedroom
7 towns, closest first

Towns around MCAS Beaufort

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($2,403) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

Beaufort, SC

16 min drive · 4.7 road mi
Median rent
$1,212
2 bedrooms
$1,183
3 bedrooms
$1,807
Home value
$345,400
People
13,747
Homes rented
39%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,220 a month

Beaufort County School District: 32 schools, 21,489 students, 11 students per teacher. District facts

Burton, SC

18 min drive · 7.4 road mi
Median rent
$1,229
2 bedrooms
$1,327
3 bedrooms
$1,534
Home value
$247,600
People
6,912
Homes rented
40%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,076 a month

Beaufort County School District: 32 schools, 21,489 students, 11 students per teacher. District facts

Laurel Bay, SC

19 min drive · 7.1 road mi
Median rent
$1,454
2 bedrooms
$1,199
3 bedrooms
$1,483
Home value
$231,800
People
5,882
Homes rented
78%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,204 a month

Beaufort County School District: 32 schools, 21,489 students, 11 students per teacher. District facts

Port Royal, SC

28 min drive · 12.8 road mi
Median rent
$1,726
2 bedrooms
$1,779
3 bedrooms
$1,852
Home value
$347,200
People
15,579
Homes rented
62%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$624 a month

Beaufort County School District: 32 schools, 21,489 students, 11 students per teacher. District facts

Hardeeville, SC

42 min drive · 27.9 road mi
Median rent
$1,406
2 bedrooms
$1,373
3 bedrooms
$1,811
Home value
$488,900
People
10,871
Homes rented
23%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,030 a month

Jasper County School District: 4 schools, 2,666 students, 15.2 students per teacher. District facts

Ridgeland, SC

45 min drive · 29.3 road mi
Median rent
$734
2 bedrooms
$680
3 bedrooms
$1,453
Home value
$228,400
People
3,764
Homes rented
53%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,723 a month

Jasper County School District: 4 schools, 2,666 students, 15.2 students per teacher. District facts

Bluffton, SC

52 min drive · 31.9 road mi
Median rent
$2,256
2 bedrooms
$2,028
3 bedrooms
$2,630
Home value
$492,100
People
33,157
Homes rented
17%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$375 a month

Beaufort County School District: 32 schools, 21,489 students, 11 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.

MCAS Beaufort base guide   MCAS Beaufort BAH   Other bases

FAQ

Living near MCAS Beaufort

What is the closest town to MCAS Beaufort?

Beaufort, SC is about 16 minutes from the main post area (4.7 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near MCAS Beaufort?

Port Royal, SC, with about 15,579 people, 28 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near MCAS Beaufort has the lowest rent?

Ridgeland, SC, where the Census median rent is $734 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 MCAS Beaufort?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $2,403 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 7 of the 7 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Ridgeland, SC.

What school district serves Beaufort?

Beaufort County School District, with 32 schools and 21,489 students (11 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.