Carlisle Barracks vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has the higher housing allowance ($2,823 vs $2,076 for an E-5 with dependents, a $747/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Carlisle Barracks is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Carlisle Barracks | Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Army | Joint |
| Location | Carlisle, PA | Wrightstown, NJ |
| Personnel | 5,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Cost of living | Moderate | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,076 | $2,823 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $2,442 | $3,486 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $2,559 | $3,552 |
| Typical home price | $280k-$400k | $300k-$420k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
Compare other bases
Use the interactive tool to compare any two of our 130+ bases.
Open the compare tool