Fort Meade vs Joint Base Andrews
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Joint Base Andrews has the higher housing allowance ($3,132 vs $2,901 for an E-5 with dependents, a $231/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Fort Meade is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Fort Meade | Joint Base Andrews | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Army | Air Force |
| Location | Odenton, MD | Camp Springs, MD |
| Personnel | 50,000+ | 17,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,901 | $3,132 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $3,327 | $3,855 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,411 | $4,020 |
| Typical home price | $400k-$560k | $400k-$540k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
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