Moving to MCRD Parris Island
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Beaufort, South Carolina.
Also known as: Parris Island, Beaufort
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, in the South Carolina Lowcountry near Beaufort, is where the Marine Corps trains recruits from east of the Mississippi. Families PCSing here, largely drill instructors and staff, settle in Beaufort and Port Royal near the gate or the Bluffton area toward Hilton Head.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves permanent-party families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Beaufort and Port Royal sit closest to the depot with the most inventory, while the Bluffton area toward Hilton Head offers newer homes and stronger schools at higher prices. The Lowcountry is scenic and moderately priced, though the resort areas near Hilton Head cost more.
Where military families live near MCRD Parris Island
Families PCSing to MCRD Parris Island most often settle in Beaufort, Port Royal, Bluffton. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort | $1,600-$2,200 | $300k-$430k | 10-20 min | Historic town closest to the depot with the most inventory. |
| Port Royal | $1,550-$2,100 | $290k-$410k | 10-20 min | Small waterfront town right next to Beaufort. |
| Bluffton | $1,900-$2,600 | $400k-$580k | 30-45 min | Newer homes and stronger schools toward Hilton Head. |
2026 BAH near MCRD Parris Island
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at MCRD Parris Island is set by the SC258 (Beaufort/Parris Island, SC) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,403 | $2,103 |
| E-7 | $2,835 | $2,319 |
| O-3 | $2,856 | $2,661 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near MCRD Parris Island
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort High School | High | Beaufort County Schools | Beaufort |
| Bluffton High School | High | Beaufort County Schools | Bluffton |
| Port Royal Elementary | Elementary | Beaufort County Schools | Port Royal |
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Where do drill instructors and staff live near Parris Island?
Beaufort and Port Royal, right next to the depot, have the most inventory and the shortest commute, making them the default. The Bluffton area toward Hilton Head offers newer homes and stronger schools but costs more and adds 30 to 45 minutes of driving. Nearby MCAS Beaufort shares the same housing market.
Is the Beaufort area expensive for military families?
It is moderate, with a scenic Lowcountry setting. Beaufort and Port Royal near the depot are reasonably priced, while the resort areas toward Hilton Head and Bluffton cost more. BAH is set to the local market, and many families find the historic small-town feel and coastal access a real draw of the assignment.
Related bases
Joint Base Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Marine CorpsCamp Lejeune
Jacksonville, North Carolina
Side-by-side comparisons: MCRD Parris Island vs Joint Base CharlestonMCRD Parris Island vs Camp Lejeune