Moving to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Kittery, Maine.
Also known as: PNSY, Kittery
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, on an island in the Piscataqua River at Kittery, Maine, overhauls the Navy’s attack submarines. Families PCSing here settle across the New Hampshire Seacoast in Portsmouth, Dover, and the Maine towns near Kittery, in a scenic coastal New England market where New Hampshire has no state income or sales tax.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing is limited, so most families live off-base across the Seacoast. Portsmouth, New Hampshire is charming but pricey, Dover and Somersworth to the west offer more value, and the Maine towns of Kittery, Eliot, and York sit closest to the yard. New Hampshire has no state income or sales tax, though the Seacoast runs above the national average.
Where military families live near Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Families PCSing to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard most often settle in Portsmouth, NH, Dover / Somersworth, NH, Kittery / Eliot / York, ME. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth, NH | $2,300-$3,100 | $550k-$750k | 5-15 min | Charming coastal city near the yard; pricey but convenient. |
| Dover / Somersworth, NH | $2,000-$2,700 | $450k-$600k | 15-25 min | More value to the west with good schools. |
| Kittery / Eliot / York, ME | $2,100-$2,900 | $500k-$700k | 5-15 min | Maine towns closest to the yard along the coast. |
2026 BAH near Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is set by the NH194 (Portsmouth, NH/Kittery, ME) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $3,321 | $2,700 |
| E-7 | $3,975 | $3,108 |
| O-3 | $4,461 | $3,555 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth High School | High | Portsmouth School Department | Portsmouth |
| Robert W. Traip Academy | High | Kittery School Department | Kittery |
| Dondero Elementary | Elementary | Portsmouth School Department | Portsmouth |
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Where do most families live near Portsmouth Naval Shipyard?
Portsmouth, New Hampshire is charming and close to the yard but pricey. Dover and Somersworth to the west offer more value with good schools. The Maine towns of Kittery, Eliot, and York sit closest to the yard along the coast. New Hampshire has no state income or sales tax, a real budget factor.
Is the Seacoast expensive for military families?
It runs above the national average, as a desirable coastal New England area, though it is more affordable than Boston an hour south. New Hampshire’s lack of a state income and sales tax helps, and Dover and Somersworth offer the best value near the yard, while Portsmouth and the Maine coast cost more.
Related bases
Naval Station Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Air ForceHanscom Air Force Base
Bedford, Massachusetts
Side-by-side comparisons: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard vs Naval Station NewportPortsmouth Naval Shipyard vs Hanscom Air Force Base
More: Navy bases · Bases in Maine