Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst vs Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst has the higher housing allowance ($2,823 vs $2,754 for an E-5 with dependents, a $69/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst | Coast Guard Training Center Cape May | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Joint | Coast Guard |
| Location | Wrightstown, NJ | Cape May, NJ |
| Personnel | 20,000+ | 4,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,823 | $2,754 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $3,486 | $3,114 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,552 | $3,186 |
| Typical home price | $300k-$420k | $350k-$480k |
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