Moving to MCAS Cherry Point
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Havelock, North Carolina.
Also known as: Cherry Point, Havelock
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, in coastal North Carolina, is home to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and a major aircraft depot. Families PCSing here settle in Havelock right outside the gate or nearby New Bern and the Crystal Coast beach towns, in an affordable coastal market where buying with a VA loan is common.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Havelock wraps around the gate with the most affordable inventory and shortest commute, New Bern offers a larger historic town with more amenities, and the Crystal Coast towns of Morehead City and Beaufort draw those who want the beach. Low prices make buying common.
Where military families live near MCAS Cherry Point
Families PCSing to MCAS Cherry Point most often settle in Havelock, New Bern, Morehead City / Beaufort. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havelock | $1,150-$1,600 | $190k-$280k | 5-10 min | Right outside the gate; most affordable and shortest commute. |
| New Bern | $1,300-$1,800 | $230k-$340k | 20-30 min | Historic river town with more amenities northwest of base. |
| Morehead City / Beaufort | $1,400-$2,000 | $280k-$420k | 20-30 min | Crystal Coast beach towns southeast of base. |
2026 BAH near MCAS Cherry Point
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at MCAS Cherry Point is set by the NC177 (Morehead/Cherry Pt MCAS, NC) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,851 | $1,722 |
| E-7 | $2,181 | $1,806 |
| O-3 | $2,421 | $1,971 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near MCAS Cherry Point
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havelock High School | High | Craven County Schools | Havelock |
| West Craven High School | High | Craven County Schools | Vanceboro |
| Graham A. Barden Elementary | Elementary | Craven County Schools | Havelock |
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Where do most families live near MCAS Cherry Point?
Havelock, right outside the gate, has the most affordable homes and the shortest commute, making it the default. New Bern, a historic river town, offers more amenities about 20 to 30 minutes northwest. The Crystal Coast towns of Morehead City and Beaufort draw families who want to live near the beach.
Is Cherry Point a good place to buy a home?
Yes, for a multi-year assignment. Havelock and Craven County home prices are low, so buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks and BAH often covers the mortgage. The steady Marine population supports rentals, though the small coastal market can make selling slower than at a large metro base.
Related bases
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