Compare military bases / Military bases by state / North Carolina
Military bases in North Carolina: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in North Carolina 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
- North Carolina hosts 96,003 active-duty members, the 4th most of any state, plus 20,032 Guard and reserve members and 20,473 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Army is the largest branch here (42,139 active duty, 44% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by +455 (+0.5%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 4 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $1,521 at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base to $1,851 at MCAS Cherry Point.
Military bases in North Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camp Lejeune | Marine Corps | Jacksonville | $1,584 | $1,476 | $2,085 | $1,173 |
| Fort Bragg | Army | Fayetteville | $1,806 | $1,527 | $2,175 | $1,251 |
| MCAS Cherry Point | Marine Corps | Havelock | $1,851 | $1,722 | $2,421 | $1,184 |
| Seymour Johnson Air Force Base | Air Force | Goldsboro | $1,521 | $1,428 | $2,226 | $1,244 |
Active-duty personnel in North Carolina by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 42,139 | 43.9% |
| Marine Corps | 41,066 | 42.8% |
| Air Force | 6,448 | 6.7% |
| Navy | 4,631 | 4.8% |
| Coast Guard | 1,715 | 1.8% |
| Space Force | 4 | 0.0% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in North Carolina.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in North Carolina?
Our directory covers 4 major installations in North Carolina: Camp Lejeune, Fort Bragg, MCAS Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in North Carolina?
96,003 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 4 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in North Carolina?
The Army, with 42,139 active-duty members. Next is the Marine Corps (41,066).
What is BAH in North Carolina in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $1,521 to $1,851 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.