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 ($4,791) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,543 a month
Boston School District: 109 schools, 45,742 students, 10.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,742 a month
Chelsea School District: 11 schools, 6,148 students, 12.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,137 a month
Somerville School District: 11 schools, 4,927 students, 11.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,612 a month
Everett School District: 10 schools, 7,345 students, 12.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,755 a month
Cambridge School District: 17 schools, 6,915 students, 9.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,469 a month
Malden School District: 7 schools, 6,282 students, 13.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,546 a month
Winthrop School District: 4 schools, 1,965 students, 12.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,650 a month
Brookline School District: 13 schools, 7,039 students, 12.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,485 a month
Quincy School District: 19 schools, 9,695 students, 12.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$2,993 a month
Lynn School District: 27 schools, 16,022 students, 12.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector Boston base guide USCG Sector Boston BAH Other bases
Boston, MA is about 8 minutes from the main post area (3.3 road miles) without traffic.
Lynn, MA, where the Census median rent is $1,722 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 $4,791 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 Lynn, MA.
Boston School District, with 109 schools and 45,742 students (10.4 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.