Where to live

Where to live near Patrick SFB

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

ClosestSouth Patrick Shores7 min drive
Biggest nearbyMelbourne86,576 people
Lowest median rentMerritt Island$1,441 a month
Most E-5 BAH left overViera East$1,116 over a 2-bedroom
10 towns, closest first

Towns around Patrick SFB

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($2,502) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

South Patrick Shores, FL

7 min drive · 2.6 road mi
Median rent
$2,054
2 bedrooms
$1,759
3 bedrooms
$2,153
Home value
$443,600
People
7,030
Homes rented
12%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$743 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Satellite Beach, FL

11 min drive · 4.5 road mi
Median rent
$1,909
2 bedrooms
$1,671
3 bedrooms
$2,294
Home value
$502,500
People
11,313
Homes rented
18%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$831 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Indian Harbour Beach, FL

13 min drive · 5.7 road mi
Median rent
$1,827
2 bedrooms
$1,842
3 bedrooms
$2,222
Home value
$440,200
People
9,025
Homes rented
20%

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

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Cocoa Beach, FL

16 min drive · 7.8 road mi
Median rent
$1,569
2 bedrooms
$1,718
3 bedrooms
$2,183
Home value
$503,200
People
11,377
Homes rented
21%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$784 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Viera East, FL

21 min drive · 11.7 road mi
Median rent
$1,681
2 bedrooms
$1,386
3 bedrooms
$2,000
Home value
$396,700
People
12,570
Homes rented
24%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,116 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Merritt Island, FL

23 min drive · 11.2 road mi
Median rent
$1,441
2 bedrooms
$1,397
3 bedrooms
$1,677
Home value
$402,900
People
34,992
Homes rented
20%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,105 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Viera West, FL

25 min drive · 12.4 road mi
Median rent
$2,182
2 bedrooms
$2,250
3 bedrooms
$3,039
Home value
$546,600
People
17,984
Homes rented
19%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$252 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Melbourne, FL

25 min drive · 12.5 road mi
Median rent
$1,525
2 bedrooms
$1,572
3 bedrooms
$1,667
Home value
$306,400
People
86,576
Homes rented
40%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$930 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

Rockledge, FL

27 min drive · 15.9 road mi
Median rent
$1,820
2 bedrooms
$1,778
3 bedrooms
$1,895
Home value
$338,100
People
29,133
Homes rented
22%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$724 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 students per teacher. District facts

West Melbourne, FL

35 min drive · 17.1 road mi
Median rent
$1,845
2 bedrooms
$1,981
3 bedrooms
$1,904
Home value
$377,100
People
28,795
Homes rented
27%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$521 a month

Brevard County School District: 109 schools, 73,810 students, 16.6 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.

Patrick SFB base guide   Patrick SFB BAH   Other bases

FAQ

Living near Patrick SFB

What is the closest town to Patrick Space Force Base?

South Patrick Shores, FL is about 7 minutes from the main post area (2.6 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near Patrick Space Force Base?

Melbourne, FL, with about 86,576 people, 25 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near Patrick Space Force Base has the lowest rent?

Merritt Island, FL, where the Census median rent is $1,441 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 Patrick Space Force Base?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $2,502 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 10 of the 10 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Viera East, FL.

What school district serves South Patrick Shores?

Brevard County School District, with 109 schools and 73,810 students (16.6 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.