Fort Stewart PCS Complete Guide
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)
Fort Stewart is home to the 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of the Marne)—high deployment tempo combat base in coastal Georgia. Hinesville is a small military town with limited options. Affordable (BAH easily covers rent with pocket money) but hot, humid, and not much to do. Savannah is 40 min away for culture. Good for saving money, tough if you need city amenities.
Key Numbers:
- BAH vs. Rent: Excellent savings (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $750+ left over)
- Median Rent (3BR house): $1,400/month
- Deployment Tempo: Very High (3rd ID BCTs deploy 9-12 months every 18-24 months)
- State Income Tax: 5.75% (GA on military pay)
- Schools: 5-7/10 (Liberty County struggling, Richmond Hill better)
- Climate: Hot + humid. 90-100°F summers with 80%+ humidity
- Savannah: 40 min away (historic city, beaches, culture)
What This Guide Covers: Complete PCS intel for Fort Stewart and Hinesville. Real BAH rates, best neighborhoods ranked, actual school ratings, deployment tempo by unit, cost of living breakdown, spouse employment market (limited), and honest answers about small-town military life.
Want real-time data? This guide provides current rates and static intel. For live housing prices, current school ratings, and personalized recommendations, use Base Navigator → (Premium)
Quick Facts
- Location: Hinesville, GA (Liberty County)
- Major Units: 3rd Infantry Division (Rock of the Marne), 1st Armored BCT, 2nd Armored BCT, 3rd Armored BCT
- Population: ~25,000 active duty, ~60,000 total (with families)
- Installation Size: 280,000+ acres (largest Army base east of Mississippi)
- Gates: 8 gates (Wilson Gate main, Gate 1 for Hinesville)
- Nearest Major City: Savannah (40 min), Jacksonville FL (1.5 hours)
BAH Rates
BAH Rates for Fort Stewart
Official rates from DFAS (updated annually in our database)
BAH rates are updated annually by DFAS. Actual amount depends on your rank, dependency status, and duty station. These rates are tax-free and designed to cover average housing costs in your area.
BAH rates sourced from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), updated annually. See official source →
Reality Check: Median rent for a 3BR house is $1,400/month. BAH for E5 with dependents easily covers this with $750+ left over—best savings potential on this list. Fort Stewart is one of the most affordable bases for pocketing BAH.
Housing: Best Neighborhoods Ranked
Top Tier (Best for Families)
-
Richmond Hill (north toward Savannah) - 7-8/10 schools, safe, 30-35 min commute, $1,700-2,100/month
- Best schools in area (Bryan County)
- Growing suburbs, newer neighborhoods
- Closer to Savannah (15 min)
- Worth the extra rent for schools
-
Flemington (southwest) - 6-7/10 schools, quiet, 20-25 min commute, $1,400-1,700/month
- Small town, rural feel
- More affordable, pocket BAH
- Safe, family-friendly
-
Midway (east) - 6/10 schools, affordable, 15-20 min commute, $1,200-1,500/month
- Close to base, easy gate access
- Military-heavy community
- Budget-friendly, save most BAH
Avoid
- Downtown Hinesville - High crime, rough after dark
- East Hinesville (Gum Branch) - Avoid entirely
- Ludowici - Too far, nothing there
On-Base Housing
- Quality: 6-7/10 (Balfour Beatty managed)
- Waitlist: 9-12 months for 3-4BR
- Cost: BAH auto-deducted
- Verdict: Off-base is better (schools, pocket money)
School District Info: Liberty County Schools (overall 5-7/10, struggling). Bryan County (Richmond Hill area) is 7-8/10—best option. Avoid Liberty County if schools matter. Register early. Liberty County Schools
For live school ratings and neighborhood analysis: Base Navigator →
Local Intel
Hinesville Reality: Small military town. That's it. Fort Stewart IS the economy. Not much to do—Walmart, chain restaurants, typical military town setup. If you need culture, Savannah (40 min) has that. But Hinesville is affordable and everyone's military.
Climate: Hot and humid. 90-100°F summers with 80%+ humidity (you'll sweat standing still). Mild winters (40-60°F). AC runs 8+ months. Budget $250-350/month electric in summer.
Savannah Access: 40 min north—historic city, River Street, beaches (Tybee Island), restaurants, culture. You'll go there for everything Hinesville doesn't have (which is most things).
Beaches:
- Tybee Island: 45 min (Savannah beach, family-friendly)
- St. Simons/Jekyll Island: 1 hour south (nicer, quieter)
Traffic: GA-119/17 is main route. Rush hour 6-8am and 4-6pm near gates. Not bad compared to most bases.
Things to Do:
- Savannah: Historic district, River Street, Forsyth Park
- Beaches: Tybee, St. Simons, Jekyll Island
- Jacksonville FL: 1.5 hours (bigger city, airport)
- Base MWR: Solid programs, Hunter Army Airfield nearby
What's It Like to Live at Fort Stewart?
Real Talk: Fort Stewart is the 3rd Infantry Division's home—high-speed combat base with constant deployments. Hinesville is a small military town with nothing to do. But it's affordable (you'll save money), Savannah is close, and the 3rd ID spouse community is tight. If you can handle small-town life and humidity, you'll be fine.
Deployment Tempo:
- 3rd ID BCTs: Very High—9-12 months deployments every 18-24 months, plus NTC/JRTC rotations
- Aviation Brigade: High—6-9 month deployments supporting BCTs
- Support Units: Moderate—fewer deployments but heavy field training
Quality of Life:
- Affordable: BAH covers rent with $200+ pocket money
- Small Town: Hinesville has nothing, Savannah (40 min) has everything
- Hot + Humid: 90-100°F + 80% humidity summers, brutal
- Tight Community: Everyone deploys, everyone's in same boat
The Good:
- Affordable—pocket $200-300/month easily
- Savannah 40 min away (beaches, food, culture)
- Georgia no tax on military pay if deployed
- 3rd ID spouse community is strong (constant deployments = tight FRGs)
The Not-So-Good:
- Hinesville is rough—small town, high crime downtown, nothing to do
- Very high deployment tempo = constant family separations
- Heat + humidity is brutal (90-100°F + 80% humidity May-Sept)
- Limited spouse employment (military town, low salaries)
Cost of Living Breakdown
Cost of Living
Overall: -8% lower — Affordable
Housing: -15% lower — BAH covers rent with buffer
Groceries: -3% lower — Commissary helps
Utilities: +15% higher — AC runs 8+ months, electric $250-350 summer
Transportation: -10% lower — Gas, insurance cheaper
Healthcare: N/A — Tricare/Winn Army Community Hospital
Monthly Budget (E5 with 2 kids, off-base):
- Rent: $1,400 (3BR in Midway/Flemington)
- Utilities: $250-350 (AC runs May-Sept, electric spikes)
- Groceries: $800 (family of 4, commissary + Walmart)
- Gas: $180 (two cars, commute 15-30 min)
- Childcare: $500-800 (if needed—CDC waitlist 9-12 months)
- Entertainment: $200-300 (Savannah trips, local)
- Total: $3,330-4,130/month
BAH vs. Reality:
- BAH: $1,620/month
- Median Rent: $1,400/month
- Buffer: $220/month (solid savings)
State Taxes:
- Georgia: 5.75% state income tax
- Military pay is taxed UNLESS you're deployed (then exempt for that year)
Pro Tips:
- Shop commissary + Walmart for best prices
- Live in Midway or Flemington (save $200-400/month vs Richmond Hill)
- Savannah trips add up—budget carefully
- Use base MWR (pools, bowling, rec) for cheap family fun
Spouse Employment & Family Life
Job Market Reality: Hinesville economy is 100% Fort Stewart. Most civilian jobs are base-related or service industry. Salaries are low ($10-15/hour common). Savannah (40 min) has better jobs but commute gets old. Remote work is best option.
Top Spouse Employers:
- Healthcare: Liberty Regional Medical Center (RNs start $55K)
- On-Base Contractors: DynCorp, KBR, Vectrus (logistics, admin)
- Retail: Walmart, Target, commissary
- Education: Liberty County Schools (teachers start $42K)
- Remote Work: Best option—avoid local low-wage market
Average Spouse Salaries:
- Healthcare (RN): $55,000-68,000
- On-base contractor: $30,000-45,000
- Retail: $22,000-32,000
- Teaching (GA): $42,000-52,000
Military Spouse Preference:
- Fort Stewart has large NAF workforce (CDC, MWR, commissary)
- Army Community Service job assistance
- MyCAA grants available
- 3rd ID spouse groups very active
Childcare:
- CDC Waitlist: 9-12 months
- Off-Base Daycare: $100-175/week per child (affordable)
Common Questions About Fort Stewart
Q: Is Fort Stewart a good duty station? A: If you want to save money and can handle small-town life + heat, yes. Affordable, Savannah nearby. But 3rd ID deploys constantly and Hinesville has nothing.
Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base. Pocket $200+/month. Live in Richmond Hill (best schools) or Midway/Flemington (save money).
Q: How bad is Hinesville? A: It's a small military town. High crime downtown, nothing to do. But everyone's military so you fit in. Savannah (40 min) has everything Hinesville doesn't.
Q: Can I avoid deployments? A: Not if you're in a 3rd ID BCT. They deploy every 18-24 months for 9-12 months. This is a combat base.
Q: What's the best neighborhood? A: Richmond Hill (best schools 7-8/10, but $1,700-2,100 rent). Midway/Flemington if you want to save money ($1,200-1,500).
Q: How bad is the heat? A: 90-100°F + 80% humidity May-September. You'll sweat standing still. AC runs constantly. Budget $250-350/month electric.
Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Locally? Low-wage jobs ($10-15/hour). Remote work is best option. Savannah (40 min) has better jobs but commute is rough.
Q: What's there to do? A: Savannah (40 min) for everything—historic district, beaches, restaurants. Base MWR programs. Jacksonville FL 1.5 hours. Hinesville itself? Not much.
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Good luck with your PCS. Rock of the Marne!
Official Resources & References
This guide synthesizes data from official Department of Defense sources. For additional information:
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) - Official military pay and allowances
- Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) - PCS entitlements and regulations
- MilitaryOneSource - Free 24/7 counseling and family support
- Defense Travel Management Office - Official BAH rates and per diem
Last verified: 2025-01-15. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.