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 ($1,290) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$276 a month
Lauderdale County School District: 12 schools, 5,951 students, 13.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$350 a month
Meridian Public School District: 11 schools, 4,499 students, 12.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$796 a month
Sumter County School District: 5 schools, 976 students, 19.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$470 a month
Quitman School District: 6 schools, 1,549 students, 12.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$991 a month
Newton Municipal School: 4 schools, 816 students, 9.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$396 a month
Sumter County School District: 5 schools, 976 students, 19.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$570 a month
Noxubee County School District: 4 schools, 1,353 students, 14.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$499 a month
Philadelphia Public School District: 2 schools, 769 students, 10.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$815 a month
Union Public School District: 3 schools, 931 students, 11.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$382 a month
Choctaw County School District: 4 schools, 1,034 students, 16.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Marion, MS is about 31 minutes from the main post area (15.6 road miles) without traffic.
Meridian, MS, with about 34,137 people, 33 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Newton, MS, where the Census median rent is $423 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 $1,290 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 Newton, MS.
Lauderdale County School District, with 12 schools and 5,951 students (13.1 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.