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 ($3,975) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,166 a month
National Elementary School District (high school: Sweetwater Union High School District): 11 schools, 4,200 students, 23.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,044 a month
Lemon Grove Elementary School District (high school: Grossmont Union High School District): 8 schools, 3,122 students, 22.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$738 a month
Coronado Unified School District: 5 schools, 2,739 students, 20.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,533 a month
San Diego City Unified School District: 175 schools, 95,492 students, 22.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,758 a month
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District (high school: Grossmont Union High School District): 22 schools, 10,684 students, 23.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,139 a month
La Mesa-Spring Valley School District (high school: Grossmont Union High School District): 22 schools, 10,684 students, 23.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,800 a month
Chula Vista Elementary School District (high school: Sweetwater Union High School District): 43 schools, 22,285 students, 21.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,716 a month
Chula Vista Elementary School District (high school: Sweetwater Union High School District): 43 schools, 22,285 students, 21.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,024 a month
Cajon Valley Union Elementary School District (high school: Grossmont Union High School District): 26 schools, 15,607 students, 24.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,887 a month
Escondido Union Elementary School District (high school: Escondido Union High School District): 24 schools, 14,173 students, 17.5 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector San Diego base guide USCG Sector San Diego BAH Other bases
National City, CA is about 12 minutes from the main post area (7.8 road miles) without traffic.
San Diego, CA, with about 1,389,526 people, 17 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
National City, CA, where the Census median rent is $1,692 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 $3,975 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 National City, CA.
National Elementary School District, with 11 schools and 4,200 students (23.2 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.