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 ($1,650) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$611 a month
Fairborn City School District: 5 schools, 4,231 students, 16.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$818 a month
Greenon Local School District: 3 schools, 1,562 students, 18.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$759 a month
Tecumseh Local School District: 5 schools, 2,597 students, 17.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$502 a month
Huber Heights City School District: 8 schools, 5,903 students, 18.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$700 a month
Mad River Local School District: 9 schools, 3,750 students, 18.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$650 a month
Greenon Local School District: 3 schools, 1,562 students, 18.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$647 a month
Tecumseh Local School District: 5 schools, 2,597 students, 17.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$248 a month
Beavercreek City School District: 11 schools, 8,008 students, 18.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$721 a month
Dayton City School District: 28 schools, 12,441 students, 14.7 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$755 a month
Springfield City School District: 17 schools, 7,217 students, 14 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
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Fairborn, OH is about 17 minutes from the main post area (6.2 road miles) without traffic.
Dayton, OH, with about 136,579 people, 30 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Enon, OH, where the Census median rent is $813 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 $1,650 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 Green Meadows, OH.
Fairborn City School District, with 5 schools and 4,231 students (16.5 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.