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 ($2,193) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,006 a month
Texas City Independent School District: 15 schools, 7,874 students, 14.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$770 a month
Galveston Independent School District: 13 schools, 6,446 students, 13.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,030 a month
Dickinson Independent School District: 19 schools, 12,592 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$895 a month
Texas City Independent School District: 15 schools, 7,874 students, 14.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$458 a month
Clear Creek Independent School District: 47 schools, 40,132 students, 16.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,039 a month
Dickinson Independent School District: 19 schools, 12,592 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$906 a month
Dickinson Independent School District: 19 schools, 12,592 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$545 a month
High Island Independent School District: 1 schools, 159 students, 11.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$737 a month
Friendswood Independent School District: 6 schools, 6,210 students, 15.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$935 a month
Pasadena Independent School District: 67 schools, 47,486 students, 13.1 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector Houston-Galveston base guide USCG Sector Houston-Galveston BAH Other bases
La Marque, TX is about 22 minutes from the main post area (14.8 road miles) without traffic.
Galveston, TX, with about 53,424 people, 23 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
San Leon, TX, where the Census median rent is $989 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 $2,193 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 Bacliff, TX.
Texas City Independent School District, with 15 schools and 7,874 students (14.2 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.