Moving to Picatinny Arsenal
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Rockaway, New Jersey.
Also known as: Picatinny
Picatinny Arsenal, in the hills of Morris County, New Jersey, is the Army’s center for armament research, development, and engineering. Families PCSing here settle in the Rockaway, Randolph, and Parsippany areas, in an expensive northern New Jersey market within reach of New York City, where strong schools are a major draw.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing is limited, so most families live off-post in Morris County. Rockaway and Denville sit closest to the gate, Randolph and Mendham draw families for top schools at a premium, and Parsippany and the towns toward Interstate 80 offer more inventory. As part of the greater New York metro, prices run well above the national average.
Where military families live near Picatinny Arsenal
Families PCSing to Picatinny Arsenal most often settle in Rockaway / Denville, Randolph / Mendham, Parsippany. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockaway / Denville | $2,400-$3,300 | $450k-$620k | 5-15 min | Closest to the gate with good schools and a range of prices. |
| Randolph / Mendham | $2,700-$3,700 | $550k-$780k | 15-25 min | Top schools at a premium in the Morris County suburbs. |
| Parsippany | $2,500-$3,400 | $480k-$650k | 15-25 min | More inventory and amenities toward Interstate 80. |
2026 BAH near Picatinny Arsenal
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Picatinny Arsenal is set by the NJ202 (Northern New Jersey, NJ) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $4,749 | $3,561 |
| E-7 | $5,073 | $4,299 |
| O-3 | $5,094 | $4,938 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Picatinny Arsenal
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randolph High School | High | Randolph Township Schools | Randolph |
| Morris Hills High School | High | Morris Hills Regional District | Rockaway |
| Denville Elementary | Elementary | Denville Township Schools | Denville |
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Is northern New Jersey expensive for military families?
Yes, very. As part of the greater New York metro, Morris County home prices and rents run well above the national average, and BAH at Picatinny is among the highest in the country to match. Rockaway and Denville near the gate are more attainable, while Randolph and Mendham cost more for their top schools.
Where do most families live near Picatinny Arsenal?
Rockaway and Denville sit closest to the gate with good schools and a range of prices. Randolph and Mendham draw families for top schools at a premium. Parsippany offers more inventory toward Interstate 80. New York City is reachable by train, and the Morris County schools are a major draw.
Related bases
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Wrightstown, New Jersey
ArmyWest Point
Highland Falls, New York
Side-by-side comparisons: Picatinny Arsenal vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-LakehurstPicatinny Arsenal vs West Point
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