Massachusetts (MA) BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 9 military duty stations in Massachusetts. Average E-5 with dependents rate: $3,679/mo.
MA Duty Station BAH Comparison — E-5
E-5 with dependents rates across Massachusetts stations. Highest: $4,791 (Boston). Lowest: $2,388 (Hampden County). Average: $3,679/mo.
Boston, MA
MHA: MA120
E-5 w/ Dep
$4,791
O-3 w/ Dep
$5,163
Cape Cod-Plymouth, MA
MHA: MA124
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,924
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,419
Essex Co, MA
MHA: MA125
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,477
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,533
Fitchburg, MA
MHA: MA123
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,093
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,059
Hampden County, MA
MHA: MA126
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,388
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,426
Hanscom Afb, MA
MHA: MA377
E-5 w/ Dep
$4,188
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,770
Martha'S Vineyard, MA
MHA: MA151
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,984
O-3 w/ Dep
$5,025
Nantucket, MA
MHA: MA119
E-5 w/ Dep
$4,344
O-3 w/ Dep
$5,442
Worcester, MA
MHA: MA122
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,919
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,756
About BAH in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 9 Military Housing Areas with BAH rates that reflect local rental costs. Rates vary significantly across the state based on the cost of living in each area. The Department of Defense calculates BAH using median rental data collected from each housing area, ensuring that service members receive allowances aligned with actual housing costs in their duty station location.
The highest E-5 with dependents BAH rate in Massachusetts is $4,791/mo and the lowest is $2,388/mo. This range reflects the diversity of housing markets across Massachusetts's military installations.
How Massachusetts BAH Rates Are Determined
BAH rates in Massachusetts are based on annual surveys of local rental markets conducted by the Department of Defense. These surveys measure median housing costs including rent, utilities, and renter's insurance for various housing profiles. Each Military Housing Area (MHA) in Massachusetts receives rates tailored to its specific cost of living, which is why rates can differ significantly between duty stations even within the same state. Service members stationed in Massachusetts should use our calculator to find the exact rate for their specific pay grade and dependency status.
Related Resources
- BAH rates by pay grade — Compare rates across all ranks
- Historical BAH rates — See how Massachusetts rates changed over time
- Compare duty stations — Side-by-side BAH comparison
- BAH affordability tool — What can you afford?