7 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 ($2,139) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$571 a month
Central Union Elementary School District (high school: Lemoore Union High School District): 4 schools, 1,596 students, 19 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$719 a month
Lemoore Union Elementary School District (high school: Lemoore Union High School District): 8 schools, 3,216 students, 20.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,002 a month
Armona Union Elementary School District (high school: Hanford Joint Union High School District): 3 schools, 1,092 students, 19.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$968 a month
Hanford Elementary School District (high school: Hanford Joint Union High School District): 12 schools, 5,568 students, 22.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,096 a month
Riverdale Joint Unified School District: 5 schools, 1,456 students, 17.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,098 a month
Coalinga-Huron Unified School District: 11 schools, 4,382 students, 20.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,282 a month
Reef-Sunset Unified School District: 9 schools, 2,687 students, 22.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Lemoore Station, CA is about 22 minutes from the main post area (5.7 road miles) without traffic.
Avenal, CA, where the Census median rent is $1,015 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 $2,139 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 Avenal, CA.
Central Union Elementary School District, with 4 schools and 1,596 students (19 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.