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 ($2,430) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,178 a month
Portsmouth City Public Schools: 23 schools, 13,161 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,174 a month
Norfolk City Public Schools: 49 schools, 26,882 students, 12.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$941 a month
Chesapeake City Public Schools: 48 schools, 40,576 students, 14.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$718 a month
Isle of Wight County Public Schools: 9 schools, 5,588 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$803 a month
Virginia Beach City Public Schools: 88 schools, 64,986 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,069 a month
Hampton City Public Schools: 33 schools, 19,657 students, 13.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,003 a month
Suffolk City Public Schools: 22 schools, 14,520 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,281 a month
Isle of Wight County Public Schools: 9 schools, 5,588 students, 14.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$309 a month
York County Public Schools: 19 schools, 12,726 students, 5.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,141 a month
Newport News City Public Schools: 43 schools, 26,183 students, 15.5 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector Hampton Roads base guide USCG Sector Hampton Roads BAH Other bases
Portsmouth, VA is about 10 minutes from the main post area (5.5 road miles) without traffic.
Chesapeake, VA, with about 252,583 people, 30 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Smithfield, VA, where the Census median rent is $1,195 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 $2,430 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 Smithfield, VA.
Portsmouth City Public Schools, with 23 schools and 13,161 students (14.3 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.