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 ($3,759) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,541 a month
Oakland Unified School District: 82 schools, 33,916 students, 19.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$477 a month
Emery Unified School District: 3 schools, 600 students, 18.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,057 a month
Alameda City Unified School District: 16 schools, 9,061 students, 23.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$258 a month
Piedmont City Unified School District: 7 schools, 2,308 students, 16.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,346 a month
Berkeley Unified School District: 18 schools, 9,077 students, 18.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,258 a month
Albany City Unified School District: 6 schools, 3,574 students, 20.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,337 a month
San Leandro Unified School District: 13 schools, 8,741 students, 21.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$258 a month
West Contra Costa Unified School District: 54 schools, 25,575 students, 21.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,304 a month
Hayward Unified School District: 29 schools, 17,631 students, 21 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,514 a month
Mount Diablo Unified School District: 52 schools, 29,356 students, 23.5 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector San Francisco base guide USCG Sector San Francisco BAH Other bases
Oakland, CA is about 10 minutes from the main post area (3 road miles) without traffic.
Oakland, CA, where the Census median rent is $1,979 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 $3,759 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 Oakland, CA.
Oakland Unified School District, with 82 schools and 33,916 students (19.4 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.