Moving to Fort Hamilton
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Brooklyn, New York.
Fort Hamilton, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, is the only active-duty Army installation in New York City, serving as a hub for administration, recruiting, and support in the metro area. Families PCSing here face one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, and most rely on on-base housing or look to Staten Island for value.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing is in very high demand given New York City prices, with long waitlists. Off-base, the Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn sit right by the post but are expensive, while Staten Island across the Verrazzano Bridge offers relatively more space and value. Given NYC costs, most families prioritize base housing or accept small apartments.
Where military families live near Fort Hamilton
Families PCSing to Fort Hamilton most often settle in Bay Ridge, Staten Island, Southern Brooklyn. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Ridge (Brooklyn) | $2,800-$4,000 | $800k-$1.3M | 5-15 min | Right by the post; convenient but expensive city living. |
| Staten Island | $2,400-$3,400 | $650k-$950k | 20-35 min | Relatively more space and value across the Verrazzano Bridge. |
| Southern Brooklyn | $2,600-$3,700 | $700k-$1.1M | 15-30 min | Other Brooklyn neighborhoods with a range of city prices. |
2026 BAH near Fort Hamilton
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Hamilton is set by the NY219 (New York City, NY) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $5,070 | $4,980 |
| E-7 | $5,238 | $5,088 |
| O-3 | $5,529 | $5,112 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Hamilton
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hamilton High School | High | NYC Public Schools | Brooklyn |
| Staten Island Technical HS | High | NYC Public Schools | Staten Island |
| PS 104 The Fort Hamilton School | Elementary | NYC Public Schools | Brooklyn |
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Can you afford to live near Fort Hamilton?
It is one of the most expensive markets of any base, so BAH here is the highest in the country to match New York City costs. Even so, most families rely on on-base housing or accept smaller apartments in Bay Ridge. Staten Island across the bridge offers relatively more space and value for a longer commute.
Where do families live near Fort Hamilton?
The Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn sit right by the post but are expensive. Staten Island, across the Verrazzano Bridge, offers relatively more space and value. Given New York City prices, on-base housing is in very high demand, and many families make it their first choice.
Related bases
West Point
Highland Falls, New York
JointJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Wrightstown, New Jersey
Side-by-side comparisons: Fort Hamilton vs West PointFort Hamilton vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
More: Army bases · Bases in New York