Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst vs Naval Station Newport
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Naval Station Newport has the higher housing allowance ($2,847 vs $2,823 for an E-5 with dependents, a $24/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.
| Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst | Naval Station Newport | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Joint | Navy |
| Location | Wrightstown, NJ | Newport, RI |
| Personnel | 20,000+ | 16,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,823 | $2,847 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $3,486 | $3,702 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,552 | $4,137 |
| Typical home price | $300k-$420k | $400k-$560k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
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