Whether you are PCSing to NAS Patuxent River, NSF Indian Head, NSF Dahlgren, JB Andrews, or the Pentagon area, understanding your 2026 BAH rate and the VA loan limits in your duty station's region is critical to making smart housing decisions. Below is a complete breakdown of 2026 BAH rates for each base and the VA loan limits that apply to the counties where most military families in this region choose to live.

NAS Patuxent River, MD - 2026 BAH Rates

NAS Pax River is located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. Most military families buying near the base shop in St. Mary's County and Calvert County. The 2026 BAH rates for NAS Patuxent River are:

E-1 through E-4: $2,268 with dependents / $1,890 without

E-5: $2,406 with dependents / $2,040 without

E-6: $2,547 with dependents / $2,139 without

E-7: $2,625 with dependents / $2,271 without

E-8: $2,712 with dependents / $2,442 without

E-9: $2,856 with dependents / $2,469 without

O-1: $2,433 with dependents / $2,127 without

O-2: $2,544 with dependents / $2,364 without

O-3: $2,769 with dependents / $2,490 without

O-4: $3,075 with dependents / $2,622 without

O-5: $3,300 with dependents / $2,670 without

O-6: $3,327 with dependents / $2,751 without

NSF Indian Head, MD - 2026 BAH Rates

NSF Indian Head is in Charles County, Maryland - one of the highest VA loan limit counties in the region at $1,249,125. BAH rates here are significantly higher than Pax River, reflecting the DC-adjacent cost of living:

E-1 through E-4: $3,066 with dependents / $2,376 without

E-5: $3,126 with dependents / $2,787 without

E-6: $3,231 with dependents / $3,006 without

E-7: $3,333 with dependents / $3,063 without

E-8: $3,444 with dependents / $3,153 without

E-9: $3,615 with dependents / $3,171 without

O-3: $3,516 with dependents / $3,186 without

O-4: $3,870 with dependents / $3,333 without

O-5: $4,119 with dependents / $3,396 without

O-6: $4,158 with dependents / $3,501 without

NSF Dahlgren, VA - 2026 BAH Rates

NSF Dahlgren is located in King George County, Virginia. Many Dahlgren families choose to live across the river in Charles County, MD (VA loan limit $1,249,125) or commute from Stafford County, VA (also $1,249,125). The 2026 BAH rates for Dahlgren are:

E-1 through E-4: $2,307 with dependents / $2,013 without

E-5: $2,313 with dependents / $2,196 without

E-6: $2,715 with dependents / $2,304 without

E-7: $2,763 with dependents / $2,325 without

E-8: $2,811 with dependents / $2,397 without

E-9: $2,955 with dependents / $2,514 without

O-3: $2,844 with dependents / $2,568 without

O-4: $3,243 with dependents / $2,757 without

O-5: $3,534 with dependents / $2,781 without

O-6: $3,564 with dependents / $2,823 without

JB Andrews (Joint Base Andrews), MD - 2026 BAH Rates

JB Andrews is located in Prince George's County, Maryland - a high-cost area with a VA loan limit of $1,249,125. Andrews families benefit from DC-level BAH rates:

E-1 through E-4: $2,682 with dependents / $2,166 without

E-5: $2,826 with dependents / $2,406 without

E-6: $3,174 with dependents / $2,550 without

E-7: $3,234 with dependents / $2,685 without

E-8: $3,297 with dependents / $2,901 without

E-9: $3,432 with dependents / $2,997 without

O-3: $3,336 with dependents / $3,045 without

O-4: $3,678 with dependents / $3,228 without

O-5: $3,918 with dependents / $3,261 without

O-6: $3,954 with dependents / $3,321 without

Fort Meade / NSA (Anne Arundel County), MD - 2026 BAH Rates

Fort Meade is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland and is home to the National Security Agency (NSA), U.S. Cyber Command, and a number of other major defense agencies. Anne Arundel County has a standard VA loan limit of $832,750. BAH rates for Fort Meade are:

E-1 through E-4: $2,739 with dependents / $2,178 without

E-5: $2,901 with dependents / $2,436 without

E-6: $3,276 with dependents / $2,592 without

E-7: $3,327 with dependents / $2,745 without

E-8: $3,378 with dependents / $2,982 without

E-9: $3,507 with dependents / $3,087 without

O-3: $3,411 with dependents / $3,114 without

O-4: $3,759 with dependents / $3,300 without

O-5: $4,014 with dependents / $3,342 without

O-6: $4,047 with dependents / $3,417 without

Pentagon / Washington DC Area - 2026 BAH Rates

The Pentagon Military Housing Area covers Washington DC, Arlington, Fairfax, and surrounding Northern Virginia counties - all at the maximum VA loan limit of $1,249,125. These are among the highest BAH rates in the country:

E-1 through E-4: $2,709 with dependents / $2,256 without

E-5: $2,955 with dependents / $2,361 without

E-6: $3,174 with dependents / $2,523 without

E-7: $3,228 with dependents / $2,739 without

E-9: $3,444 with dependents / $3,060 without

O-3: $3,009 with dependents / $2,703 without

O-4: $3,351 with dependents / $2,874 without

O-5: $3,594 with dependents / $2,916 without

O-6: $3,627 with dependents / $2,991 without

2026 VA Loan Limits for Our Region - We Are in High-Cost Exception Areas

Here is the most important thing most military families do not realize: many of the counties in this region qualify as high-cost exception areas, meaning the VA loan limits are well above the national baseline of $832,750 - in several cases exceeding $1,200,000. This gives you enormous purchasing power when combined with zero down payment.

2026 VA Loan Limits by County:

Charles County, MD: $1,249,125 (NSF Indian Head, Dahlgren commuters, NAS Pax River commuters)

Calvert County, MD: $1,209,750 (NAS Pax River commuters, between bases)

Prince George's County, MD: $1,249,125 (JB Andrews)

Montgomery County, MD: $1,249,125

Frederick County, MD: $1,249,125

St. Mary's County, MD: $832,750 (NAS Pax River - standard limit)

Anne Arundel County, MD: $832,750 (Fort Meade/NSA - standard limit)

Arlington County, VA: $1,249,125 (Pentagon area)

Fairfax County, VA: $1,249,125

Stafford County, VA: $1,249,125 (Dahlgren commuters)

Prince William County, VA: $1,249,125

Loudoun County, VA: $1,249,125

What This Means for You

If you have full VA entitlement, you have NO loan limit with zero down payment. That means you can purchase a home priced above $1,249,125 with no down payment as long as you qualify for the payment. In high-cost counties like Charles, Calvert, and Prince George's in Maryland - or Arlington, Stafford, and Fairfax in Virginia - your VA benefit gives you the ability to buy a home that would require $200,000 or more in down payment from a conventional buyer.

This is one of the most powerful financial tools available to military families. I work exclusively with military buyers and sellers in this region and I help my clients maximize their VA benefit every single time. Call or text Sarah Mulford-Martin at The Liberty Home Team - (410) 279-6341. I specialize in military relocations throughout Southern Maryland and the DC metro military corridor.