Where to live

Where to live near Shaw AFB

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

ClosestDalzell11 min drive
Biggest nearbySumter43,053 people
Lowest median rentBishopville$614 a month
Most E-5 BAH left overBishopville$1,157 over a 2-bedroom
10 towns, closest first

Towns around Shaw AFB

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($1,503) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

Dalzell, SC

11 min drive · 5 road mi
Median rent
$1,067
2 bedrooms
$1,027
3 bedrooms
$1,302
Home value
$157,500
People
2,946
Homes rented
38%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$476 a month

Sumter County Consolidated School District: 25 schools, 14,301 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts

Cherryvale, SC

12 min drive · 4.7 road mi
Median rent
$809
2 bedrooms
$1,009
3 bedrooms
$728
Home value
$90,500
People
2,611
Homes rented
71%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$494 a month

Sumter County Consolidated School District: 25 schools, 14,301 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts

Sumter, SC

19 min drive · 10.3 road mi
Median rent
$1,076
2 bedrooms
$1,076
3 bedrooms
$1,192
Home value
$199,100
People
43,053
Homes rented
43%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$427 a month

Sumter County Consolidated School District: 25 schools, 14,301 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts

Lakewood, SC

31 min drive · 18.2 road mi
Median rent
$939
2 bedrooms
-
3 bedrooms
$940
Home value
$294,200
People
3,544
Homes rented
29%

E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$564 a month

Sumter County Consolidated School District: 25 schools, 14,301 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts

Privateer, SC

33 min drive · 20.1 road mi
Median rent
$837
2 bedrooms
-
3 bedrooms
$818
Home value
$121,100
People
2,472
Homes rented
21%

E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$666 a month

Sumter County Consolidated School District: 25 schools, 14,301 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts

East Camden, SC

37 min drive · 26.4 road mi
Median rent
$900
2 bedrooms
-
3 bedrooms
$855
Home value
$183,100
People
4,194
Homes rented
23%

E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$603 a month

Kershaw County School District: 17 schools, 11,149 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts

Bishopville, SC

41 min drive · 23.3 road mi
Median rent
$614
2 bedrooms
$346
3 bedrooms
$979
Home value
$128,200
People
2,910
Homes rented
56%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,157 a month

Lee County School District: 5 schools, 1,382 students, 9.6 students per teacher. District facts

Lugoff, SC

42 min drive · 31 road mi
Median rent
$915
2 bedrooms
$722
3 bedrooms
$1,101
Home value
$223,900
People
9,786
Homes rented
13%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$781 a month

Kershaw County School District: 17 schools, 11,149 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts

Dentsville, SC

54 min drive · 39 road mi
Median rent
$1,250
2 bedrooms
$1,252
3 bedrooms
$1,374
Home value
$163,700
People
15,209
Homes rented
62%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$251 a month

Richland School District 2: 32 schools, 28,917 students, 13.7 students per teacher. District facts

Cayce, SC

55 min drive · 39.8 road mi
Median rent
$1,360
2 bedrooms
$1,213
3 bedrooms
$1,287
Home value
$166,800
People
13,741
Homes rented
39%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$290 a month

Lexington School District 2: 13 schools, 8,544 students, 13.8 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.

Shaw AFB base guide   Shaw AFB BAH   Other bases

FAQ

Living near Shaw AFB

What is the closest town to Shaw Air Force Base?

Dalzell, SC is about 11 minutes from the main post area (5 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near Shaw Air Force Base?

Sumter, SC, with about 43,053 people, 19 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near Shaw Air Force Base has the lowest rent?

Bishopville, SC, where the Census median rent is $614 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 Shaw Air Force Base?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $1,503 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 Bishopville, SC.

What school district serves Dalzell?

Sumter County Consolidated School District, with 25 schools and 14,301 students (15.5 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.