Fort Hamilton vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Fort Hamilton has the higher housing allowance ($5,070 vs $2,823 for an E-5 with dependents, a $2,247/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Fort Hamilton | Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Army | Joint |
| Location | Brooklyn, NY | Wrightstown, NJ |
| Personnel | 4,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Cost of living | Very high | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $5,070 | $2,823 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $5,238 | $3,486 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $5,529 | $3,552 |
| Typical home price | $800k-$1.3M | $300k-$420k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
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