Moving to Fort Jackson
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Columbia, South Carolina.
Fort Jackson, in Columbia, South Carolina, is the Army’s largest and most active Basic Combat Training installation, training roughly half of all new soldiers. Families PCSing here settle in northeast Columbia, Blythewood, or Lexington, where moderate home prices make buying with a VA loan common across most ranks.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing serves permanent-party families, with waitlists on larger homes. Off-post, northeast Columbia sits closest to the gate with the most inventory, Blythewood offers newer suburbs and strong schools to the north, and Lexington across the river draws families for its top-rated district. Columbia’s moderate prices make buying realistic for most ranks.
Where military families live near Fort Jackson
Families PCSing to Fort Jackson most often settle in Northeast Columbia, Blythewood, Lexington. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Columbia | $1,200-$1,700 | $220k-$330k | 10-20 min | Closest to the gate with the most inventory and amenities. |
| Blythewood | $1,350-$1,900 | $260k-$380k | 15-25 min | Newer suburbs and strong schools north of the city. |
| Lexington | $1,400-$1,950 | $270k-$390k | 25-40 min | Top-rated school district across the river; family favorite. |
2026 BAH near Fort Jackson
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Jackson is set by the SC260 (Columbia/Fort Jackson, SC) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,878 | $1,647 |
| E-7 | $2,160 | $1,812 |
| O-3 | $2,232 | $2,028 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Jackson
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blythewood High School | High | Richland School District Two | Blythewood |
| Lexington High School | High | Lexington County School District One | Lexington |
| Pontiac Elementary | Elementary | Richland School District Two | Elgin |
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Where do permanent-party families live near Fort Jackson?
Northeast Columbia sits closest to the gate with the most housing and amenities. Blythewood, to the north, offers newer suburbs and strong schools in Richland District Two. Lexington, across the river, draws families for its top-rated district despite a longer commute. All three are common choices for cadre and staff.
Is Columbia affordable for soldiers at Fort Jackson?
Yes. The Columbia metro has moderate home prices near the national average, and buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks. Because Fort Jackson is primarily a training post, much of the population is transient, but permanent-party families find a stable resale and rental market across the metro.
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