Fort Drum: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,665/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,907 (HUD FY2026). About $242/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $234,099 in Jefferson County NY (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $2,056/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,469/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Drum
2026 BAH at Fort Drum
Military Housing Area NY225: Fort Drum/Watertown, NY. Duty ZIP 13602. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,569 | $1,356 |
| E-2 | $1,569 | $1,356 |
| E-3 | $1,569 | $1,356 |
| E-4 | $1,569 | $1,356 |
| E-5 | $1,665 | $1,422 |
| E-6 | $1,893 | $1,476 |
| E-7 | $2,103 | $1,578 |
| E-8 | $2,331 | $1,749 |
| E-9 | $2,526 | $1,896 |
| W-1 | $1,914 | $1,548 |
| W-2 | $2,196 | $1,713 |
| W-3 | $2,478 | $1,899 |
| W-4 | $2,544 | $1,938 |
| W-5 | $2,631 | $2,154 |
| O-1E | $2,145 | $1,662 |
| O-2E | $2,436 | $1,827 |
| O-3E | $2,559 | $1,920 |
| O-1 | $1,701 | $1,470 |
| O-2 | $1,890 | $1,638 |
| O-3 | $2,469 | $1,902 |
| O-4 | $2,655 | $2,115 |
| O-5 | $2,784 | $2,244 |
| O-6 | $2,805 | $2,457 |
| O-7+ | $2,823 | $2,496 |
Rent near Fort Drum
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $969 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,071 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,405 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,340 |
Watertown-Fort Drum, NY MSA (Jefferson County NY). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,496.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $234,099 (Zillow ZHVI, Jefferson County NY, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $239,132 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $1,656/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $300/mo (1.54% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $100/mo
- Total (est.)
- $2,056/mo
- 2026 loan limit
- $832,750 (only matters with partial entitlement)
All numbers are estimates for planning. BAH: DTMO 2026. Rent: HUD FY2026 FMR. Home value: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rate: Freddie Mac 7.4% (2026-10-15). Tax: Census ACS county median. Insurance: our placeholder (0.5% of value, min $1,200/yr), not a quote.
FAQ
What is the 2026 BAH at Fort Drum?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,665 a month; without dependents $1,422. O-3 with dependents: $2,469. Military Housing Area NY225 (Fort Drum/Watertown, NY). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Drum?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County NY: $1,405 for 2 bedrooms, $1,907 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,496 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Drum?
It depends on how long you'll stay and whether you'd keep it as a rental. Run the planner above with your rank and plans.
What's the VA loan limit near Fort Drum?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Jefferson County NY: $832,750.