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 ($1,377) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$619 a month
Derby Unified School District 260: 13 schools, 7,284 students, 15.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$222 a month
Derby Unified School District 260: 13 schools, 7,284 students, 15.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$295 a month
Haysville Unified School District 261: 9 schools, 5,528 students, 14.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$381 a month
Wichita Unified School District 259: 87 schools, 46,516 students, 10.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$425 a month
Rose Hill Public Schools Unified School District 394: 4 schools, 1,703 students, 15.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$52 a month
Andover Unified School District 385: 11 schools, 9,376 students, 24.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$298 a month
Mulvane Unified School District 263: 4 schools, 1,819 students, 11.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH short after the median 2-bedroom rent: -$373 a month
Wichita Unified School District 259: 87 schools, 46,516 students, 10.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$454 a month
Valley Center Public Schools Unified School District 262: 7 schools, 3,179 students, 14.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$328 a month
Augusta Unified School District 402: 5 schools, 1,963 students, 14.4 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Oaklawn-Sunview, KS is about 7 minutes from the main post area (2.5 road miles) without traffic.
Wichita, KS, with about 397,945 people, 16 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Oaklawn-Sunview, KS, where the Census median rent is $788 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 $1,377 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 9 of the 10 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Oaklawn-Sunview, KS.
Derby Unified School District 260, with 13 schools and 7,284 students (15.9 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.