Fort Meade: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $2,901/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $2,358 (HUD FY2026). You keep about $543/mo.
- Typical home: $502,145 in Anne Arundel County MD (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $4,116/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $3,411/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Meade
2026 BAH at Fort Meade
Military Housing Area MD133: Fort G.G. Meade, MD. Duty ZIP 20755. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,739 | $2,178 |
| E-2 | $2,739 | $2,178 |
| E-3 | $2,739 | $2,178 |
| E-4 | $2,739 | $2,178 |
| E-5 | $2,901 | $2,436 |
| E-6 | $3,276 | $2,592 |
| E-7 | $3,327 | $2,745 |
| E-8 | $3,378 | $2,982 |
| E-9 | $3,507 | $3,087 |
| W-1 | $3,297 | $2,694 |
| W-2 | $3,345 | $2,979 |
| W-3 | $3,414 | $3,102 |
| W-4 | $3,543 | $3,282 |
| W-5 | $3,708 | $3,336 |
| O-1E | $3,333 | $2,898 |
| O-2E | $3,402 | $3,063 |
| O-3E | $3,570 | $3,270 |
| O-1 | $2,952 | $2,577 |
| O-2 | $3,273 | $2,850 |
| O-3 | $3,411 | $3,138 |
| O-4 | $3,759 | $3,321 |
| O-5 | $4,014 | $3,345 |
| O-6 | $4,047 | $3,390 |
| O-7+ | $4,077 | $3,450 |
Rent near Fort Meade
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,362 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,511 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,857 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,358 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,611 |
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA (Anne Arundel County MD). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $2,337.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $502,145 (Zillow ZHVI, Anne Arundel County MD, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $512,941 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $3,552/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $356/mo (0.85% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $209/mo
- Total (est.)
- $4,116/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 Meade?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $2,901 a month; without dependents $2,436. O-3 with dependents: $3,411. Military Housing Area MD133 (Fort G.G. Meade, MD). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Meade?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Anne Arundel County MD: $1,857 for 2 bedrooms, $2,358 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $2,337 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Meade?
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 Meade?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Anne Arundel County MD: $832,750.