Moving to MCAS Beaufort
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Beaufort, South Carolina.
Also known as: Fightertown East
Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, is the East Coast home of Marine F-35B and F/A-18 squadrons, just up the road from MCRD Parris Island. Families PCSing here settle in Beaufort and Port Royal near the gate or the Bluffton area toward Hilton Head, in a scenic, moderately priced coastal market.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Beaufort and Port Royal sit closest to the air station with the most inventory, while the Bluffton area toward Hilton Head offers newer homes and stronger schools at higher prices. The Lowcountry is scenic and moderately priced, though the resort areas near Hilton Head cost more.
Where military families live near MCAS Beaufort
Families PCSing to MCAS Beaufort most often settle in Beaufort, Port Royal, Bluffton. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort | $1,600-$2,200 | $300k-$430k | 10-20 min | Historic town closest to the air station with the most inventory. |
| Port Royal | $1,550-$2,100 | $290k-$410k | 15-25 min | Small waterfront town right next to Beaufort. |
| Bluffton | $1,900-$2,600 | $400k-$580k | 30-45 min | Newer homes and stronger schools toward Hilton Head. |
2026 BAH near MCAS Beaufort
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at MCAS Beaufort is set by the SC258 (Beaufort/Parris Island, SC) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,403 | $2,103 |
| E-7 | $2,835 | $2,319 |
| O-3 | $2,856 | $2,661 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near MCAS Beaufort
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort High School | High | Beaufort County Schools | Beaufort |
| Bluffton High School | High | Beaufort County Schools | Bluffton |
| Beaufort Elementary | Elementary | Beaufort County Schools | Beaufort |
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Where do most families live near MCAS Beaufort?
Beaufort and Port Royal, closest to the air station, have the most inventory and the shortest commute. The Bluffton area toward Hilton Head offers newer homes and stronger schools but costs more and adds 30 to 45 minutes of driving. MCAS Beaufort shares the housing market with nearby MCRD Parris Island.
Is the Beaufort area a good place to be stationed?
Many Marines love it. The Lowcountry offers a scenic marsh-and-coast setting, a historic small-town feel in Beaufort, and moderate home prices compared with the Hilton Head resort areas. BAH is set to the local market, and the mix of affordability and coastal living makes it a popular assignment.
Related bases
MCRD Parris Island
Beaufort, South Carolina
JointJoint Base Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Side-by-side comparisons: MCAS Beaufort vs MCRD Parris IslandMCAS Beaufort vs Joint Base Charleston