Moving to Fort Stewart
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Hinesville, Georgia.
Fort Stewart, near Hinesville, Georgia, is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi and home to the 3rd Infantry Division. Families PCSing here choose between Hinesville right outside the gate and the Savannah suburbs of Richmond Hill and Pooler, trading a longer commute for coastal amenities and schools.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing through Balfour Beatty Communities serves the division, with waitlists on larger homes. Off-post, Hinesville sits right outside the gate with the most affordable inventory, while Richmond Hill and the Savannah suburbs draw families for stronger schools and proximity to the coast at the cost of a longer commute.
Where military families live near Fort Stewart
Families PCSing to Fort Stewart most often settle in Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Pooler / West Savannah. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinesville | $1,150-$1,600 | $200k-$290k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate; most affordable and heaviest military renter base. |
| Richmond Hill | $1,400-$1,950 | $280k-$400k | 20-30 min | Popular Savannah suburb with strong schools; the family favorite. |
| Pooler / West Savannah | $1,400-$2,000 | $270k-$390k | 30-45 min | Newer construction and amenities near Savannah, longer commute. |
2026 BAH near Fort Stewart
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Stewart is set by the GA080 (Fort Stewart, GA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,310 | $1,947 |
| E-7 | $2,493 | $2,178 |
| O-3 | $2,598 | $2,385 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Stewart
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Hill High School | High | Bryan County Schools | Richmond Hill |
| Bradwell Institute | High | Liberty County Schools | Hinesville |
| Button Gwinnett Elementary | Elementary | Liberty County Schools | Hinesville |
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Is it better to live in Hinesville or the Savannah suburbs near Fort Stewart?
Hinesville sits right outside the gate with the shortest commute and the most affordable housing, so most soldiers start there. Richmond Hill and Pooler, closer to Savannah, offer stronger schools and coastal amenities but add 20 to 45 minutes of driving. Families with kids often trade the commute for the schools.
How far is Fort Stewart from Savannah?
Fort Stewart is about 40 miles southwest of Savannah, roughly a 45-minute drive from the main gate to downtown. Many families live in the Savannah suburbs of Richmond Hill or Pooler to access better schools and the coast, while accepting the longer daily commute to post.
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More: Army bases · Bases in Georgia