Compare military bases / Military bases by state / Maryland
Military bases in Maryland: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in Maryland in our directory, with 2026 housing allowance and Defense Manpower Data Center personnel counts by branch.
Data vintage: DMDC personnel as of August 31, 2026 (compared with September 30, 2025); BAH effective January 1, 2026; HUD FY2026 fair market rents. Last checked 2026-10-27 by The CompareTheData team.
Data: DMDC, DTMO and HUD. Jump to sources · Methodology
Key takeaways
- Maryland hosts 30,896 active-duty members, the 11th most of any state, plus 18,252 Guard and reserve members and 42,087 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Navy is the largest branch here (10,238 active duty, 33% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by +922 (+3.1%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 5 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $2,406 at NAS Patuxent River to $3,132 at Joint Base Andrews.
Military bases in Maryland
Click a column heading to sort. Open a base for schools, weather, taxes and PCS comparisons.
| Base | Branch | Nearest city | BAH E-5 with dependents | BAH E-5 without | BAH O-3 with dependents | HUD fair market rent, 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Proving Ground | Army | Aberdeen | $2,478 | $1,986 | $3,072 | $1,857 |
| Fort Detrick | Army | Frederick | $2,682 | $2,160 | $3,255 | $2,246 |
| Fort Meade | Army | Fort Meade | $2,901 | $2,436 | $3,411 | $1,857 |
| Joint Base Andrews | Joint | Camp Springs | $3,132 | $2,832 | $4,020 | $2,246 |
| NAS Patuxent River | Navy | Patuxent River | $2,406 | $2,040 | $2,769 | $1,833 |
Active-duty personnel in Maryland by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Navy | 10,238 | 33.1% |
| Air Force | 8,758 | 28.3% |
| Army | 8,076 | 26.1% |
| Marine Corps | 2,425 | 7.8% |
| Coast Guard | 1,029 | 3.3% |
| Space Force | 370 | 1.2% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in Maryland.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in Maryland?
Our directory covers 5 major installations in Maryland: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Detrick, Fort Meade, Joint Base Andrews, NAS Patuxent River. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in Maryland?
30,896 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 11 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in Maryland?
The Navy, with 10,238 active-duty members. Next is the Air Force (8,758).
What is BAH in Maryland in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $2,406 to $3,132 a month at the bases listed here. See all 2026 BAH rates.
Related
Sources
- DMDC, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service and Location (by state), August 2026 and September 2025. as of August 31, 2026; prior September 30, 2025.
- Defense Travel Management Office, 2026 BAH rates (ASCII file, all locations and pay grades). effective January 1, 2026.
- HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026.