Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story
Virginia Beach, Virginia · Navy / Army
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story
For 2026, BAH rates at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story (Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $2,229/mo · E-5 without dependents: $1,908/mo · E-5 with dependents: $2,430/mo · E-6 with dependents: $2,559/mo · E-7 with dependents: $2,604/mo · O-3 with dependents: $2,694/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 Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$105 (4.5%) vs 2025
Quick Facts
Location
Virginia Beach, VA
Branch
Navy, Army
MHA
Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
E-5 w/dep
$2,430/mo
State Tax
4.8% (Virginia)
How This Market Compares
Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $2,430/month — $369/month above the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA 102nd-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 30%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$2,430/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
+$369/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $1,590–$1,990 (median $1,770).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$2,430/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$1,770 median
$1,590–$1,990 range
The 2026 BAH for E-5 with dependents ($2,430) 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 Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story falls in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA 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.
Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story shares the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA with Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and Dam Neck Annex — all receive identical BAH.
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story rose $105 (+4.5%) from 2025's $2,325/month — about $1,260 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 — Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $2,229/mo·E-5 w/dep: $2,430/mo·E-6 w/dep: $2,559/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $2,229▲ +$75 (3.5%) | $1,707▲ +$33 (2.0%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $2,229▲ +$75 (3.5%) | $1,707▲ +$33 (2.0%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $2,229▲ +$75 (3.5%) | $1,707▲ +$33 (2.0%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $2,229▲ +$75 (3.5%) | $1,707▲ +$33 (2.0%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $2,430▲ +$105 (4.5%) | $1,908▲ +$39 (2.1%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $2,559▲ +$90 (3.6%) | $2,043▲ +$48 (2.4%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $2,604▲ +$99 (4.0%) | $2,235▲ +$78 (3.6%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $2,661▲ +$117 (4.6%) | $2,463▲ +$102 (4.3%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $2,796▲ +$123 (4.6%) | $2,487▲ +$96 (4.0%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $2,574▲ +$90 (3.6%) | $2,166▲ +$63 (3.0%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $2,628▲ +$105 (4.2%) | $2,460▲ +$102 (4.3%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $2,697▲ +$120 (4.7%) | $2,496▲ +$99 (4.1%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,832▲ +$120 (4.4%) | $2,562▲ +$93 (3.8%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $3,000▲ +$123 (4.3%) | $2,616▲ +$102 (4.1%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $2,613▲ +$105 (4.2%) | $2,427▲ +$105 (4.5%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $2,685▲ +$117 (4.6%) | $2,481▲ +$99 (4.2%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,859▲ +$126 (4.6%) | $2,547▲ +$90 (3.7%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $2,454▲ +$102 (4.3%) | $2,022▲ +$45 (2.3%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $2,556▲ +$90 (3.6%) | $2,367▲ +$96 (4.2%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $2,694▲ +$120 (4.7%) | $2,505▲ +$93 (3.9%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $3,054▲ +$120 (4.1%) | $2,601▲ +$102 (4.1%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $3,318▲ +$126 (3.9%) | $2,625▲ +$108 (4.3%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $3,342▲ +$123 (3.8%) | $2,673▲ +$117 (4.6%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $3,366▲ +$120 (3.7%) | $2,718▲ +$117 (4.5%) |
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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BAH is just one piece of your pay
See your full compensation at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story — including base pay, BAS, tax advantages, and what a civilian would need to earn to match it.
Calculate your total compensation →Key Insights for Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story
An E-5 with dependents receives $2,430/month — that's $29,160/year in housing money (excluded from federal taxable income) to cover costs in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA market.
Virginia taxes military base pay at approximately 4.8%. BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income; state treatment varies.
BAH is benchmarked to typical local rental costs for a member's pay grade and dependency status — not premium or above-median housing. Members who choose more expensive housing pay the difference out of pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story receives $2,430/month in BAH (Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $2,559/month, E-7 $2,604/month, O-3 $2,694/month. E-5 without dependents is $1,908/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH?
Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story is assigned to the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA 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 Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story rose $105 (+4.5%) from 2025's $2,325/month — about $1,260 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 Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story falls in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Joint Base Langley-Eustis is $156/month lower, Naval Station Norfolk is the same, and Naval Air Station Oceana is the same — compared with Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story's $2,430/month.
How does BAH at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story receives $2,430/month in BAH. Across the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $1,590–$1,990 (median $1,770). The 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($2,430) 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 Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story?
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.
Why do Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story and nearby installations have the same BAH rate?
Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story shares the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA MHA with Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and Dam Neck Annex — all of them receive identical BAH because the rate is set per MHA, not per installation. A member at any of these locations with the same pay grade and dependency status receives the same amount.
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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.