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 ($2,607) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,325 a month
West Allis School District: 16 schools, 6,938 students, 14 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,327 a month
St. Francis School District: 3 schools, 1,097 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,549 a month
Milwaukee School District: 156 schools, 66,864 students, 17.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,139 a month
Shorewood School District: 5 schools, 1,927 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,524 a month
Cudahy School District: 6 schools, 2,054 students, 13.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,015 a month
Glendale-River Hills School District (high school: Nicolet Union High School District): 2 schools, 963 students, 10.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,181 a month
Whitefish Bay School District: 4 schools, 2,831 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,498 a month
West Allis School District: 16 schools, 6,938 students, 14 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,174 a month
Wauwatosa School District: 17 schools, 6,761 students, 13.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$685 a month
Elmbrook School District: 10 schools, 7,863 students, 15.4 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
USCG Sector Great Lakes base guide USCG Sector Great Lakes BAH Other bases
West Milwaukee, WI is about 10 minutes from the main post area (5.4 road miles) without traffic.
Milwaukee, WI, with about 566,973 people, 11 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
West Milwaukee, WI, where the Census median rent is $920 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 $2,607 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 Milwaukee, WI.
West Allis School District, with 16 schools and 6,938 students (14 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.