Moving to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Wrightstown, New Jersey.
Also known as: JB MDL, McGuire, Fort Dix
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, in central New Jersey, combines an Air Force airlift base, an Army training post, and a Navy engineering station into one of the DoD’s only tri-service joint bases. Families PCSing here settle in the towns around Wrightstown or the Mount Holly and Bordentown areas, within reach of both Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Should you live on base or off base at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst?
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, the small towns of Wrightstown and Cookstown sit right outside the gates, Browns Mills offers the most affordable inventory, and the Mount Holly and Bordentown areas draw families for stronger schools and access to Philadelphia. New Jersey prices run above the national average, especially closer to the city.
Where do military families live near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst?
Families PCSing to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst most often settle in Wrightstown / Cookstown, Browns Mills, Bordentown / Mount Holly. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrightstown / Cookstown | $1,600-$2,200 | $300k-$420k | 5-15 min | Small towns right outside the gates with the shortest commute. |
| Browns Mills | $1,500-$2,000 | $260k-$360k | 10-20 min | Most affordable inventory just south of the base. |
| Bordentown / Mount Holly | $1,800-$2,500 | $340k-$480k | 20-30 min | Stronger schools and Philadelphia access to the west. |
Rent and home-price ranges are typical local market estimates as of 2026-07-19, not official listings. See our methodology.
How much is 2026 BAH at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is set by the NJ204 (JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,823 | $2,421 |
| E-7 | $3,486 | $2,715 |
| O-3 | $3,552 | $3,219 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Calculate BAH for any pay grade at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst →
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Get my free quotesWhat schools are near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst?
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Burlington County Regional HS | High | Northern Burlington County Regional | Columbus |
| Bordentown Regional High School | High | Bordentown Regional | Bordentown |
| New Hanover Township School | Elementary | New Hanover Township | Wrightstown |
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst PCS FAQ
Where do most families live near Joint Base MDL?
The small towns of Wrightstown and Cookstown sit right outside the gates with the shortest commute. Browns Mills, just south, has the most affordable inventory. The Bordentown and Mount Holly areas to the west draw families for stronger schools and easier access to Philadelphia, about 20 to 30 minutes from the base.
Is central New Jersey expensive for military families?
It runs above the national average, especially closer to Philadelphia and toward the shore. The towns right around the base are more affordable than the wider metro, and BAH is set to the local market. Many families weigh the shorter commute of Wrightstown against the stronger schools of the Bordentown area.
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