Fort Drum
Watertown, New York · Army
Fort Drum is home to the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) — the most deployed division in the Army — located in northern New York near the Canadian border.
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Fort Drum
For 2026, BAH rates at Fort Drum (Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $1,569/mo · E-5 without dependents: $1,422/mo · E-5 with dependents: $1,665/mo · E-6 with dependents: $1,893/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,103/mo · O-3 with dependents: $2,469/mo. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income. Full rates for all pay grades are in the table below.
Showing E-5 with dependents for the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$84 (5.3%) vs 2025
How This Market Compares
Fort Drum BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $1,665/month — $396/month below the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA 245th-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 72%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$1,665/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
-$396/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $1,160–$1,238 (median $1,160).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$1,665/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,160 median
$1,160–$1,238 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($1,665) is above the area's 75th-percentile 2-bedroom rent — it covers a 2-bedroom across most of this area.
BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status, leaving a roughly 5% member cost share.
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026). 2-bedroom is the reference point closest to junior- and mid-grade housing; larger households and senior grades typically need more space. Rent figures are HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents matched to this installation's Military Housing Area by ZIP code. MHA boundaries and HUD rent areas don't align perfectly, so these are area-level reference figures, not a personalized rent estimate. FMR is a gross-rent figure that includes tenant-paid utilities — the same basis BAH is built on.
How Fort Drum BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Fort Drum falls in the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA — every installation and address in that MHA receives the same rate for a given pay grade and dependency status, so multiple bases can share one rate.
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Drum rose $84 (+5.3%) from 2025's $1,581/month — about $1,008 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's above the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published table rates; individual rate protection may keep your personal rate higher.
2026 BAH Rates — Fort Drum/Watertown, NY
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $1,569/mo·E-5 w/dep: $1,665/mo·E-6 w/dep: $1,893/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $1,569▲ +$75 (5.0%) | $1,356▲ +$162 (13.6%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $1,569▲ +$75 (5.0%) | $1,356▲ +$162 (13.6%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $1,569▲ +$75 (5.0%) | $1,356▲ +$162 (13.6%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $1,569▲ +$75 (5.0%) | $1,356▲ +$162 (13.6%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $1,665▲ +$84 (5.3%) | $1,422▲ +$99 (7.5%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $1,893▲ +$93 (5.2%) | $1,476▲ +$72 (5.1%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,103▲ +$84 (4.2%) | $1,578▲ +$63 (4.2%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,331▲ +$75 (3.3%) | $1,749▲ +$57 (3.4%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $2,526▲ +$78 (3.2%) | $1,896▲ +$60 (3.3%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $1,914▲ +$93 (5.1%) | $1,548▲ +$72 (4.9%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,196▲ +$78 (3.7%) | $1,713▲ +$84 (5.2%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $2,478▲ +$69 (2.9%) | $1,899▲ +$60 (3.3%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,544▲ +$81 (3.3%) | $1,938▲ +$81 (4.4%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $2,631▲ +$96 (3.8%) | $2,154▲ +$81 (3.9%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,145▲ +$84 (4.1%) | $1,662▲ +$84 (5.3%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $2,436▲ +$69 (2.9%) | $1,827▲ +$51 (2.9%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,559▲ +$87 (3.5%) | $1,920▲ +$66 (3.6%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $1,701▲ +$84 (5.2%) | $1,470▲ +$69 (4.9%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $1,890▲ +$93 (5.2%) | $1,638▲ +$81 (5.2%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $2,469▲ +$69 (2.9%) | $1,902▲ +$60 (3.3%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $2,655▲ +$102 (4.0%) | $2,115▲ +$84 (4.1%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $2,784▲ +$132 (5.0%) | $2,244▲ +$75 (3.5%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $2,805▲ +$132 (4.9%) | $2,457▲ +$66 (2.8%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $2,823▲ +$129 (4.8%) | $2,496▲ +$63 (2.6%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published BAH table rates. Individual rate protection means your personal rate may differ if you've maintained eligibility at this location.
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New York taxes military pay at up to 10.9% at the top marginal rate — one of the highest in the country. However, active-duty military domiciled outside New York are generally exempt from NY state income tax. Verify your domicile status.
Rent and cost figures on this page are approximate and provided for informational and educational purposes only. They reflect market estimates at time of publication and may not reflect current conditions. This is not financial, tax, or housing advice. Always verify figures independently and consult a qualified professional before making financial commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at Fort Drum?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Drum receives $1,665/month in BAH (Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $1,893/month, E-7 $2,103/month, O-3 $2,469/month. E-5 without dependents is $1,422/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Fort Drum BAH?
Fort Drum is assigned to the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY Military Housing Area (MHA). Every installation and address in the same MHA receives the same rate, regardless of exact ZIP or neighborhood. Rates are published annually by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and take effect January 1.
How much did Fort Drum BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Fort Drum rose $84 (+5.3%) from 2025's $1,581/month — about $1,008 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's above the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Rate protection means a member who stays at the same location with the same dependency status keeps their rate even if the published table rate falls.
Does Fort Drum BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Fort Drum falls in the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Fort Drum BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Fort Hamilton is $3,405/month higher, Naval Submarine Base New London is $915/month higher, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is $1,158/month higher — compared with Fort Drum's $1,665/month.
How does BAH at Fort Drum compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Fort Drum receives $1,665/month in BAH. Across the Fort Drum/Watertown, NY area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $1,160–$1,238 (median $1,160). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($1,665) is above the area's 75th-percentile 2-bedroom rent — it covers a 2-bedroom across most of this area. BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status.
Is BAH taxable for service members stationed at Fort Drum?
No. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income under the Military Pay Tax Exclusion. Most states also exempt BAH from state income tax, though treatment varies by state. Service members keep the full dollar value of their housing allowance.
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Data Source & Disclaimer
BAH rates are from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) 2026 BAH data, effective January 1, 2026. Rates are set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not individual ZIP code — all ZIPs in the same MHA receive identical rates. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with DoD, DTMO, or any government agency. Verify your entitlement at travel.dod.mil.