Navy Aquidneck Island / Rhode Island

Moving to Naval Station Newport

Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Newport, Rhode Island.

Also known as: Newport

$2,847 E-5 BAH / month
Branch
Navy
Personnel
16,000 +
Nearest city
Newport, RI
Cost of living
High

Naval Station Newport, on Aquidneck Island in Rhode Island, is the Navy’s primary center for professional education, home to the Naval War College and Officer Candidate School. Families PCSing here settle in Middletown and Portsmouth near the base or historic Newport, in a scenic New England coastal market that runs above the national average.

Last updated: 2026-07-19

On-base vs off-base housing

On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Middletown sits right next to the base with the most military-friendly inventory and good schools, Portsmouth to the north offers a quieter suburban feel, and historic Newport is charming but pricey. Tiverton across the bay provides more value. Aquidneck Island prices run above the national average.

Where military families live near Naval Station Newport

Families PCSing to Naval Station Newport most often settle in Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.

Area3-bed rentHome pricesTo gateNotes
Middletown $1,900-$2,600 $400k-$560k 5-15 min Right next to the base with good schools; military favorite.
Portsmouth $2,000-$2,700 $430k-$600k 10-20 min Quieter suburban feel with strong schools to the north.
Tiverton $1,800-$2,400 $380k-$520k 20-30 min More value across the bay to the east.

2026 BAH near Naval Station Newport

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Naval Station Newport is set by the RI256 (Newport, RI) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.

Pay gradeWith dependentsWithout dependents
E-5 $2,847 $2,361
E-7 $3,702 $2,778
O-3 $4,137 $3,231

Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.

Schools near Naval Station Newport

SchoolLevelDistrictTown
Portsmouth High School High Portsmouth School Department Portsmouth
Middletown High School High Middletown School District Middletown
Aquidneck Elementary Elementary Middletown School District Middletown

Get free quotes for your PCS move to Naval Station Newport

Compare movers, storage, auto transport, and insurance near Newport. Free, no obligation.

Get my free quotes

Naval Station Newport PCS FAQ

Where do most families live near Naval Station Newport?

Middletown, right next to the base, has the most military-friendly inventory and good schools, making it the default. Portsmouth, to the north, offers a quieter suburban feel with strong schools. Historic Newport is charming but pricey, and Tiverton across the bay provides more value for a longer commute.

Is the Newport area expensive?

It runs above the national average. Aquidneck Island is a desirable New England coastal area, so home prices and rents are elevated, especially in historic Newport. Middletown and Portsmouth near the base are more practical for families, and BAH is set to the local market. Tiverton offers the best value nearby.

Related bases

Side-by-side comparisons: Naval Station Newport vs Naval Submarine Base New LondonNaval Station Newport vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

More: Navy bases · Bases in Rhode Island