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 ($1,521) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$512 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$545 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$713 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$508 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$809 a month
Lenoir County Schools: 17 schools, 8,372 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$738 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$629 a month
Wayne County Public Schools: 33 schools, 17,368 students, 15.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$618 a month
Lenoir County Schools: 17 schools, 8,372 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$835 a month
Greene County Schools: 6 schools, 2,694 students, 12.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$583 a month
Wilson County Schools: 25 schools, 10,260 students, 16.5 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Seymour Johnson AFB base guide Seymour Johnson AFB BAH Other bases
Elroy, NC is about 9 minutes from the main post area (3.6 road miles) without traffic.
Goldsboro, NC, with about 34,383 people, 19 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Snow Hill, NC, where the Census median rent is $696 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 $1,521 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 8 of the 8 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Snow Hill, NC.
Wayne County Public Schools, with 33 schools and 17,368 students (15.8 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.