Moving to Dover Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Dover, Delaware.
Also known as: Dover AFB
Dover Air Force Base, in central Delaware, is one of the largest airlift bases on the East Coast, flying C-5 and C-17 aircraft, and home to the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations. Families PCSing here settle in Dover and nearby Camden-Wyoming or Milford, drawn by no state sales tax and beach access an hour east.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Should you live on base or off base at Dover Air Force Base?
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Dover wraps around the base with the most inventory, Camden-Wyoming to the south is the family favorite for its Caesar Rodney schools, and Milford offers newer homes on the way to the beaches. Delaware has no state sales tax and central Delaware is affordable, so buying with a VA loan is common.
Where do military families live near Dover Air Force Base?
Families PCSing to Dover Air Force Base most often settle in Camden-Wyoming, Dover, Milford. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.
| Area | 3-bed rent | Home prices | To gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camden-Wyoming | $1,500-$2,050 | $300k-$420k | 10-20 min | Family favorite for the Caesar Rodney schools, just south. |
| Dover | $1,400-$1,900 | $270k-$380k | 5-15 min | Wraps around the base with the most inventory and amenities. |
| Milford | $1,450-$1,950 | $290k-$400k | 20-30 min | Newer homes toward the Delaware beaches to the southeast. |
Rent and home-price ranges are typical local market estimates as of 2026-07-19, not official listings. See our methodology.
How much is 2026 BAH at Dover Air Force Base?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Dover Air Force Base is set by the DE054 (Dover AFB/Rehoboth, DE) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,277 | $1,947 |
| E-7 | $2,694 | $2,163 |
| O-3 | $3,051 | $2,409 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
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Get my free quotesWhat schools are near Dover Air Force Base?
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesar Rodney High School | High | Caesar Rodney School District | Camden |
| Dover High School | High | Capital School District | Dover |
| W.B. Simpson Elementary | Elementary | Caesar Rodney School District | Camden |
Dover Air Force Base PCS FAQ
Where do most families live near Dover AFB?
Camden-Wyoming, just south, is the family favorite for its Caesar Rodney schools. Dover wraps around the base with the most inventory and amenities. Milford offers newer homes on the way to the Delaware beaches. Central Delaware is affordable, and the state has no sales tax, so buying is common.
What are the perks of being stationed at Dover AFB?
Delaware has no state sales tax, which stretches your paycheck, and central Delaware home prices are moderate, making buying with a VA loan realistic. The Delaware and Maryland beaches are about an hour east, and Dover sits within reach of Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington for weekend trips.
Related bases
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Wrightstown, New Jersey
Air ForceJoint Base Andrews
Camp Springs, Maryland
Side-by-side comparisons: Dover Air Force Base vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-LakehurstDover Air Force Base vs Joint Base Andrews
More: Air Force bases · Bases in Delaware