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PBT Bancorp nationwide 2026 military housing study

Best Military Cities to Buy a Home With a VA Loan

The best military city to buy a home is not always the place with the lowest price. A family also needs to know how far the housing allowance reaches, what the estimated VA payment looks like, and whether local sale prices have been relatively stable.

We compared 123 installation-linked communities across 43 states plus Washington, DC using the same nationwide method. Every market is tied to a named installation in the official MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. The ranking is a starting point for a PCS decision, while the actual purchase price still needs to be reviewed with your pay, debts, household size, orders, insurance, and the property you choose.


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  • 123 installation-linked markets
  • 43 states plus Washington, DC
  • May 2026 Redfin data
Military family holding a house key after buying near a duty station
Rock IslandHighest score in the nationwide study
99%Top composite score
123Military housing markets compared
43 + DCStates represented by verified installation markets

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Michael Parker, NMLS #457569  |  PBT Bancorp, NMLS #257781  |  FDIC member bank, licensed in all 50 states

Top 10 installation-linked markets

Which military cities scored highest for VA homebuyers?

The score gives 80 percent of the weight to the estimated core VA payment compared with E-5 with-dependents BAH and 20 percent to the size of the latest one-year Redfin sale-price change, although the result still has to be compared with the borrower and the actual home.

  1. #1

    Rock Island, IL

    99PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$134,170
    Estimated core VA payment$1,081/mo

    Rock Island Arsenal. 2026 E-5 BAH $1,908.

  2. #2

    Dayton, OH

    97PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$137,917
    Estimated core VA payment$1,031/mo

    Wright-Patterson AFB. 2026 E-5 BAH $1,650.

  3. #3

    Petersburg, VA

    93.4PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$224,865
    Estimated core VA payment$1,585/mo

    Fort Lee. 2026 E-5 BAH $2,358.

  1. #4

    Hinesville, GA

    90.2PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$244,853
    Estimated core VA payment$1,732/mo

    Fort Stewart. 2026 E-5 BAH $2,310.

  2. #5

    Marysville, CA

    90.2PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$354,788
    Estimated core VA payment$2,501/mo

    Beale AFB. 2026 E-5 BAH $2,967.

  3. #6

    Philadelphia, PA

    90PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$289,827
    Estimated core VA payment$2,151/mo

    Naval Support Activity Philadelphia. 2026 E-5 BAH $2,691.

  4. #7

    Montgomery, AL

    89.8PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$204,877
    Estimated core VA payment$1,388/mo

    Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex. 2026 E-5 BAH $1,683.

  5. #8

    Carlisle, PA

    87.6PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$239,856
    Estimated core VA payment$1,781/mo

    Carlisle Barracks. 2026 E-5 BAH $2,076.

  6. #9

    Goldsboro, NC

    84.4PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$207,376
    Estimated core VA payment$1,444/mo

    Seymour Johnson AFB. 2026 E-5 BAH $1,521.

  7. #10

    Fayetteville, NC

    83.7PBT score
    Redfin median sale price$234,859
    Estimated core VA payment$1,636/mo

    Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield. 2026 E-5 BAH $1,806.

PBT analysis using Redfin median sale prices, 2026 E-5 with-dependents BAH, estimated state property tax, and one-year sale-price change.

Planning a PCS move?

Want us to compare a duty station with your actual numbers?

Click Get a Callback to open the short form. A VA loan specialist can compare the projected BAH, income, debts, household needs, and a comfortable home price before the house-hunting trip. No credit pull is required for the first conversation.

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The nationwide 2026 military city ranking

Search by market or installation, then sort the six decision-focused columns. The complete BAH, price-change, Redfin-geography, and scoring fields remain available in the downloadable CSV. The estimated core payment uses zero down, a financed 2.15 percent first-use VA funding fee, a 6.5 percent example rate, a 30-year term, and estimated state property tax.

Showing 123 records

More comparison fields are available to the right. Swipe or scroll sideways, or download the complete CSV.
1 Rock Island, IL Rock Island Arsenal $134,170 $1,081 99
2 Dayton, OH Wright-Patterson AFB $137,917 $1,031 97
3 Petersburg, VA Fort Lee $224,865 $1,585 93.4
4 Hinesville, GA Fort Stewart $244,853 $1,732 90.2
5 Marysville, CA Beale AFB $354,788 $2,501 90.2
6 Philadelphia, PA Naval Support Activity Philadelphia $289,827 $2,151 90
7 Montgomery, AL Maxwell AFB and Gunter Annex $204,877 $1,388 89.8
8 Carlisle, PA Carlisle Barracks $239,856 $1,781 87.6
9 Goldsboro, NC Seymour Johnson AFB $207,376 $1,444 84.4
10 Fayetteville, NC Fort Bragg and Pope Army Airfield $234,859 $1,636 83.7
11 Warner Robins, GA Robins AFB $243,604 $1,723 82.9
12 Columbus, GA Fort Benning $217,120 $1,536 81.8
13 Millington, TN Naval Support Activity Mid-South $285,819 $1,953 81.7
14 Dover, DE Dover AFB $289,827 $1,985 81.2
15 Shreveport, LA Barksdale AFB $199,880 $1,379 81
16 Jacksonville, FL Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport $304,818 $2,159 80.4
17 Augusta, GA Fort Gordon $219,868 $1,555 80.2
18 Valdosta, GA Moody AFB $209,874 $1,484 80.2
19 Meridian, MS Naval Air Station Meridian $85,949 $601 80
20 Warren, MI Detroit Arsenal $209,874 $1,561 80
21 Columbus, MS Columbus AFB $144,913 $1,014 80
22 North Chicago, IL Naval Station Great Lakes $224,865 $1,812 80
23 Enid, OK Vance AFB $164,901 $1,168 79.6
24 Norfolk, VA Hampton Roads naval installations $325,583 $2,295 78.4
25 Fairbanks, AK Eielson AFB and USAG Alaska, Wainwright $268,539 $1,971 77.9
26 Columbia, SC Fort Jackson $275,735 $1,884 77.6
27 Hampton, VA Joint Base Langley-Eustis $294,824 $2,078 77.5
28 El Paso, TX Fort Bliss $253,848 $1,916 76.3
29 Belleville, IL Scott AFB $154,574 $1,245 76.2
30 Havelock, NC MCAS Cherry Point $248,851 $1,733 76.1
31 Panama City, FL Naval Support Activity Panama City and Tyndall AFB $299,721 $2,122 76.1
32 Woodbridge, VA Marine Corps Base Quantico $459,725 $3,240 75.9
33 Savannah, GA Hunter Army Airfield $339,247 $2,400 75.7
34 Twentynine Palms, CA Twentynine Palms $274,836 $1,937 75.1
35 Kingsland, GA Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay $322,302 $2,280 74.8
36 Odenton, MD Fort Meade $439,737 $3,187 74.8
37 Radcliff, KY Fort Knox $244,254 $1,722 73.9
38 Indian Head, MD Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Indian Head $374,776 $2,716 73.6
39 San Antonio, TX Joint Base San Antonio $259,844 $1,961 73.4
40 Oklahoma City, OK Tinker AFB $269,839 $1,911 72.7
41 Jacksonville, NC Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River $244,853 $1,705 72.2
42 Lawton, OK Fort Sill $160,904 $1,139 72
43 San Angelo, TX Goodfellow AFB $249,801 $1,886 71.5
44 Leavenworth, KS Fort Leavenworth $237,858 $1,784 71.2
45 Biloxi, MS Keesler AFB and Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport $259,844 $1,818 71
46 Aurora, CO Buckley SFB $461,724 $3,170 70.6
47 Tucson, AZ Davis-Monthan AFB $319,809 $2,179 70.6
48 Spokane, WA Fairchild AFB $368,729 $2,623 70.6
49 Corpus Christi, TX Naval Air Station Corpus Christi $269,839 $2,037 70.4
50 Tampa, FL MacDill AFB $442,585 $3,134 70.4
51 Alamogordo, NM Holloman AFB $234,859 $1,640 70.1
52 Anchorage, AK Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson $427,744 $3,140 70.1
53 Fort Worth, TX Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth $337,798 $2,550 69.7
54 Omaha, NE Offutt AFB $283,386 $2,165 69.3
55 Albuquerque, NM Kirtland AFB $354,788 $2,477 69.3
56 Lompoc, CA Vandenberg SFB $573,657 $4,043 68.5
57 Las Cruces, NM White Sands Missile Range $310,119 $2,165 68.3
58 Ogden, UT Hill AFB $379,223 $2,603 67.9
59 Lemoore, CA Naval Air Station Lemoore $384,770 $2,712 67.3
60 Frederick, MD Fort Detrick $439,737 $3,187 67.2
61 Honolulu, HI Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, MCB Hawaii, and USAG Hawaii $589,147 $3,936 66.9
62 Killeen, TX Fort Hood $227,864 $1,720 66.6
63 Clarksville, TN Fort Campbell $314,812 $2,151 66.5
64 Sierra Vista, AZ Fort Huachuca $302,819 $2,064 65.3
65 Groton, CT Naval Submarine Base New London $312,313 $2,449 64.8
66 Aberdeen, MD Aberdeen Proving Ground $325,805 $2,362 64.6
67 Albany, GA Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany $184,889 $1,308 64.5
68 Barstow, CA Fort Irwin and MCLB Barstow $274,835 $1,937 63.6
69 Leesville, LA Fort Polk $170,848 $1,179 63.6
70 Wichita Falls, TX Sheppard AFB $204,827 $1,546 63.5
71 Rapid City, SD Ellsworth AFB $344,794 $2,519 62.7
72 Palmdale, CA Edwards AFB $519,689 $3,663 62.7
73 Tacoma, WA Joint Base Lewis-McChord $499,701 $3,555 62.4
74 Bremerton, WA Naval Base Kitsap $460,037 $3,273 62.2
75 Watertown, NY Fort Drum $215,771 $1,654 62
76 Fairfield, CA Travis AFB $607,137 $4,279 61.6
77 Little Rock, AR Little Rock AFB $275,835 $1,900 61.4
78 Las Vegas, NV Nellis AFB and Creech AFB $449,731 $3,080 61.2
79 El Centro, CA Naval Air Facility El Centro $374,776 $2,642 60.9
80 Great Falls, MT Malmstrom AFB $336,798 $2,368 60.8
81 Pensacola, FL Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Whiting Field $344,794 $2,442 60.6
82 Colorado Springs, CO Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, and USAF Academy $449,731 $3,087 60.4
83 Mountain Home, ID Mountain Home AFB $350,290 $2,387 60.4
84 Beaufort, SC MCAS Beaufort and MCRD Parris Island $489,302 $3,343 60.2
85 Huntsville, AL Redstone Arsenal $349,791 $2,369 59.7
86 Niceville, FL Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field $489,707 $3,468 59.2
87 Sumter, SC Shaw AFB $269,789 $1,843 58.6
88 Del Rio, TX Laughlin AFB $224,865 $1,697 58.3
89 Washington, DC Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Naval Support Activity Washington $626,568 $4,374 58.1
90 Highland Falls, NY United States Military Academy at West Point $479,713 $3,677 58
91 Wichita, KS McConnell AFB $243,854 $1,828 57.7
92 Lexington Park, MD Naval Air Station Patuxent River $388,268 $2,814 57.6
93 Wrightstown, NJ Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst $376,775 $3,026 57.4
94 Enterprise, AL Fort Rucker $269,839 $1,828 57.1
95 New Orleans, LA Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans $354,038 $2,442 56.6
96 Ridgecrest, CA Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake $260,844 $1,838 56.3
97 Warrensburg, MO Whiteman AFB $279,083 $1,986 55.3
98 Clovis, NM Cannon AFB $222,867 $1,556 54
99 Waynesville, MO Fort Leonard Wood $263,842 $1,877 53.7
100 Eatontown, NJ Naval Weapons Station Earle $589,647 $4,736 53.7
101 Altus, OK Altus AFB $204,777 $1,450 53.2
102 Ventura, CA Naval Base Ventura County $899,462 $6,340 53.1
103 Cocoa Beach, FL Patrick SFB $456,727 $3,234 52.6
104 Cheyenne, WY F. E. Warren AFB $369,279 $2,560 51.7
105 Sparta, WI Fort McCoy $222,367 $1,667 51.5
106 Oceanside, CA Camp Pendleton $879,464 $6,199 51.1
107 Yuma, AZ MCAS Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground $333,301 $2,271 50.9
108 San Diego, CA San Diego naval and Marine Corps installations $954,429 $6,727 50.4
109 Abilene, TX Dyess AFB $254,163 $1,918 49.8
110 Grand Forks, ND Grand Forks AFB $298,771 $2,168 49.1
111 Everett, WA Naval Station Everett $579,653 $4,124 49
112 Minot, ND Minot AFB $284,830 $2,067 46.1
113 Junction City, KS Fort Riley $234,859 $1,761 45.9
114 Oak Harbor, WA Naval Air Station Whidbey Island $515,004 $3,664 45.2
115 Fallon, NV Naval Air Station Fallon $372,777 $2,553 44.3
116 Charleston, SC Joint Base Charleston $639,617 $4,370 42.6
117 Annapolis, MD Naval Support Activity Annapolis and U.S. Naval Academy $597,392 $4,330 41.6
118 Portsmouth, NH Portsmouth Naval Shipyard $684,590 $5,253 38.9
119 Newport, RI Naval Station Newport $961,924 $7,068 32.4
120 Bedford, MA Hanscom AFB $1,118,331 $8,153 31.6
121 Monterey, CA Presidio of Monterey and Naval Support Activity Monterey $999,402 $7,044 30.3
122 Key West, FL Naval Air Station Key West $1,271,739 $9,006 27.1
123 El Segundo, CA Los Angeles SFB $1,616,533 $11,394 21

Installation eligibility uses the official MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. Housing inputs use Redfin Data Center median sale prices. BAH uses the 2026 E-5 with-dependents rate and should be verified with the Defense Travel Management Office.

Download the data

Picked a market?

Compare the ranking with your LES and actual housing budget

We can replace the study assumptions with your pay, debts, household size, orders, and the property expenses in the market you are considering.

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How did we calculate the military city score?

The score is meant to compare military housing markets consistently, so every city receives the same loan assumptions and weights.

01

Build one VA payment estimate

Every city uses zero down, a financed 2.15 percent first-use funding fee, a 6.5 percent example rate, a 30-year term, and estimated state property tax.

02

Measure BAH coverage

Eighty percent of the score compares the estimated core VA payment with the 2026 E-5 with-dependents housing allowance.

03

Measure recent stability

Twenty percent considers the absolute size of the one-year Redfin sale-price change and gives more credit to markets with less extreme movement.

04

Require an actual installation

The study includes 123 communities tied to a named installation in the official MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. A BAH area by itself is not enough to qualify as a military market.

What the ranking does not tell you

BAH is housing income, not a required mortgage budget. A family with child care, vehicle payments, support obligations, or a larger household may need a lower payment even when the allowance covers the estimate, while a dual-military household may have two allowances that need to be reviewed with both LES statements.

The score does not include homeowners insurance, HOA dues, the exact commute, flood zone, school plan, property condition, resale costs, or likelihood of another PCS. We use it to narrow the conversation, then compare the actual home with the complete loan file.

Army family discussing where to buy a home near a military installation

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Military city ranking questions

What is the best military city to buy a home in 2026?

Rock Island, IL received the highest score in this 123-market nationwide PBT study. The best city for one family can still be different because pay, debts, commute, orders, insurance, schools, and the exact property all matter.

Does a high BAH coverage percentage mean I qualify?

No, BAH coverage compares two estimates. Qualification also considers base pay, other income, debts, residual income, credit, household size, taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and the property.

Why did PBT use E-5 with-dependents BAH?

We used E-5 with-dependents BAH to apply one consistent benchmark across every military housing area, although your pay grade, dependent status, duty location, and rate protection can produce a different allowance.

Can I use a VA loan when I know I will PCS again?

Yes, when you intend to occupy the home as your primary residence and meet the VA and lender requirements. Think carefully about the likely holding period, resale costs, and rental plan before buying.

Does this ranking cover the entire United States?

The nationwide study includes 123 installation-linked markets across 43 states plus Washington, DC, and it does not pad states without a qualifying installation-linked market by using a generic BAH city.

How often will the military city ranking be updated?

Redfin market data should be checked monthly, while BAH rates should be refreshed annually. The full calculation should be rerun after either source changes.

Compare the ranking with your actual PCS numbers

Call 800-697-4371 or complete the short form. We can review the next duty station, current LES, debts, household size, and property budget before the house-hunting trip begins.

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Last reviewed July 12, 2026. The nationwide study covers 123 installation-linked markets across 43 states plus Washington, DC. Each market is tied to a named installation in the official MilitaryINSTALLATIONS directory. Redfin median sale prices are current through the market month available for each geography, with 123 of 123 rows using May 2026 data. PBT Bancorp NMLS #257781.