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
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- Campbell University Camp Lejeune
- Webster University
- Miller-Motte College
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.