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Jacksonville, NC BAH Rates, Housing, Education, & Cost of Living

Find housing, employment, cost-of-living, and BAH rates for Jacksonville, North Carolina. Listed below are BAH Rates, college and universities, cost-of-living information, school resources for children of military families, and things to see and do in the Jacksonville area.

The military installations near Jacksonville include:

  • Camp Lejeune
  • Marine Corps Air Station New River

Jacksonville NC BAH Rates

Paygrade With Without
E01 $1,389$1,095
E02 $1,389$1,095
E03 $1,389$1,095
E04 $1,389$1,095
E05 $1,437$1,248
E06 $1,908$1,431
E07 $1,932$1,452
E08 $1,941$1,536
E09 $2,010$1,674
W01 $1,929$1,449
W02 $1,938$1,533
W03 $1,950$1,689
W04 $2,046$1,908
W05 $2,196$1,914
O01E $1,935$1,458
O02E $1,944$1,641
O03E $2,064$1,902
O01 $1,500$1,338
O02 $1,902$1,455
O03 $1,947$1,737
O04 $2,247$1,911
O05 $2,481$1,917
O06 $2,499$1,920
O07 $2,517$1,929

Local Colleges and Universities

To find more Jacksonville area schools, use the free CollegeRecon School Finder tool.

For children of veterans, it is important to know that the state of North Carolina offers scholarships to qualifying individuals through the North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans.

Using Your GI Bill

Anyone considering using the Post 9/11 GI Bill in Jacksonville should know the following:

  • You may be eligible for Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) if you are a full-time student.
  • MHA is comparable to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
  • MHA is calculated based on the zip code of where you physically attend most of your classes.
  • Those attending only online classes receive a set MHA of approximately $1,054 (in 2023)
  • Up to $1,000 is available each year for books and supplies.
  • The Post 9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to a spouse or dependent, but you must still be on active duty to transfer.
  • The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial support in specific situations where the GI Bill does not fully cover the cost of tuition at participating colleges.

Cost of Living in Jacksonville

According to Bestplaces, Jacksonville, North Carolina, has a cost-of-living index of 86.6, which is lower than the national average. Housing in Jacksonville is particularly less expensive than the rest of North Carolina, coming in at 56.9 percent compared to 83.1 percent.

Category/Index

  • Overall – 86.3
  • Housing – 56.9
  • Groceries – 95.5
  • Transportation – 72.4
  • Utilities – 72.4

Other categories to consider

  • Healthcare
  • Childcare
  • Taxes

Jacksonville Housing

Jacksonville is located just 30 minutes from Camp Lejeune and is nestled on the New River close to the coast. Residents love the short commute to the beach and the affordable housing market. According to BestPlaces, the average rent in the city is $1,060 per month. The most affordable and safe neighborhoods in Jacksonville Include:

  • Beach Haven ($1,056)
  • East Arlington ($1,457)
  • North Beach ($1,140)
  • Sandalwood ($1,252)
  • Secret Cove ($1,259)

According to Realtor.com, the average sale price of a home in Jacksonville as of December 2023 is approximately $219,000, and the market is considered to be a seller’s market, indicating that there are more people looking to buy than homes available.

To learn more about VA Loan Program benefits, you can get a free eligibility assessment from our VA loan partner.

Primary Education

Camp Lejeune is a part of the DoDEA Americas Mid-Atlantic District and has a total of seven schools to serve school-aged children. The DoDEA primary schools on Camp Lejeune include:

  • DeLalio Elementary School
  • Heroes Elementary School
  • Tarawa Terrace Elementary School
  • Johnson Primary

Additionally, nearby school districts offering high-quality primary education include Carteret County, Jones County, and Onslow County. Visit Camp Lejeune Housing to learn more.

Employment Opportunities

While Jacksonville is a small city, it boasts a healthy economy and job market. The unemployment rate in Jacksonville is 5.6%, which is lower than the national average and the city has seen the job market increase by 1% over the last year. According to BestPlaces, future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 27.3%, which is slightly lower than the national average.

The top industries that employ Jacksonville area residents include:

  • Public Administration
  • Education and Health Services
  • Financial Services
  • Construction
  • Food Services

>> To find organizations seeking to recruit and place military, veterans, and spouses, please visit CareerRecon.

Things to See and Do in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a gem that is located near the North Carolina Coast, which allows for a wide range of outdoor activities available for people of all ages.

  • Have a day of quiet reflection at the Lejeune Memorial Gardens and Freedom Fountain.
  • Enjoy a tasting at the Walton’s Distillery, a fully operational historic and historic distillery that brews moonshine, whisky, vodka, and rum.
  • Have a day of family fun outdoors on the Riverwalk Marina or Northeast Creek Park. You can enjoy canoeing, kayaking, fishing from the pier, or lounging in the beach area.
  • Plan a day trip to visit the nearby beaches of Emerald Isle, Bear Island, North Topsail Beach or Onslow Beach.
  • Visit the Lynnwood Park Zoo, a veteran owned animal sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates animals while connecting the public to wildlife through education.
  • Visit downtown Jacksonville to explore unique shops, dining, and other entertainment for a fun day out.

About the author

Sarah Tucci
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Sarah is a Philadelphia-based writer. She comes to CollegeRecon with an interdisciplinary background in international relations and cultural heritage with an interest in understanding the intersection of armed conflict and cultural heritage, particularly in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. When not writing for CollegeRecon, Sarah enjoys traveling, watching documentaries, and hanging out with her beloved Pitbull, Brutus.