If you’ve just received orders to Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield, welcome to the Coastal Empire. Between two installations, a wide range of nearby towns, and a rental market that moves fast during PCS season, figuring out where to live can feel like its own deployment. Here’s what to know before you start your house hunt.
Know Which Gate You’re Reporting To
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield are separate installations roughly 40 miles apart, and which one you’re assigned to should drive your entire housing search. Commuting between the two on a regular basis isn’t realistic day to day, so pin down your duty station first before you fall in love with a neighborhood.
Fort Stewart sits near Hinesville, in Liberty County, and is home to the 3rd Infantry Division. Main gates include Gate 1 (Main Gate) and Gate 5 (Back/North Gate), both open 24/7, along with several others with limited weekday hours.
Hunter Army Airfield sits inside Savannah’s city limits, much closer to downtown, shopping, and the coast. Its Main Gate and Rio Gate run 24/7 as well. One perk locals mention often: the Rio Gate lets out close to shopping and everyday errands, making Hunter a convenient option for families who want city-adjacent living without a long commute.
Choosing a County: What Each Area Offers
Liberty County (Hinesville and surrounding areas)
The closest and most budget-friendly option if you’re stationed at Fort Stewart. Housing costs here tend to run below the regional average, and the shorter commute to Fort Stewart’s gates is the main draw.
Chatham County (Savannah, Pooler, Garden City, Richmond Hill area)
The best fit if you’re assigned to Hunter Army Airfield or want proximity to Savannah’s schools, healthcare, shopping, and restaurants. Expect a higher cost of living than Liberty County, but a shorter commute if Hunter is your duty station.
Bryan County (Richmond Hill, Pembroke)
A popular middle-ground choice for families who want newer construction and good schools while still keeping a manageable commute to either installation, depending on which side of the county you’re in.
Effingham County (Rincon, Springfield)
Farther north, generally more rural, and often chosen by families prioritizing space, newer homes, and a lower cost of living over a short commute.
Renting vs. On-Post Housing
On-post housing at both installations is managed by a private housing partner and offers the convenience of proximity, community programs, and simplified utilities. But it isn’t the only option, and for many families, off-post rentals offer more flexibility on school zones, home size, yard space, and commute trade-offs — particularly if a spouse works off-post or kids are zoned to a specific school.
Whether on-post or off-post housing makes more sense often comes down to family size, whether you want a yard, and how you weigh commute time against home size and price. There’s no universally right answer — it’s worth comparing both before signing anything.
Using BAH Effectively
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates are set annually by the Department of Defense and vary by rank, dependency status, and duty station ZIP code — Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield fall under slightly different housing market calculations even though they’re part of the same broader community. Because rates update every January and can shift meaningfully year to year, it’s worth checking the official DoD BAH calculator directly for your current rank and ZIP code rather than relying on a number you saw somewhere else — including this article.
A few practical notes:
- BAH is tax-free, which effectively stretches its value further than the raw number suggests.
- Off-post rentals in this market can run above, at, or below BAH depending on the neighborhood, so it pays to shop before committing to a monthly budget.
- If you’re using a VA loan to buy instead of rent, lenders can often count BAH as qualifying income — a separate conversation worth having with a lender if buying is on the table.
Timing Your Move
PCS season (typically summer months) brings the highest demand and the tightest inventory in this market. If your orders give you any flexibility, starting your search 60–90 days out — and being ready to move on a good property quickly — makes a real difference. Homes near both gates tend to lease fast during peak PCS months.
What Military Renters Should Ask a Landlord or Property Manager
- Is there a military clause allowing early lease termination for PCS or deployment orders? (Georgia law and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provide some protections here, but lease language still matters.)
- How is the security deposit handled, and what’s the timeline for its return after move-out?
- What’s the maintenance response process, especially for anything urgent while a service member is deployed and a spouse is managing the household alone?
- Are utilities, lawn care, or pest control included, or fully the tenant’s responsibility?
A property manager who answers these clearly — and who’s dealt with military tenants before — will make the whole PCS transition considerably less stressful.
A Few Local Notes Worth Knowing
Tybee Island, about 25 minutes from downtown Savannah, is the closest beach and a favorite weekend destination for military families in this community — most say it becomes a monthly ritual once you’ve made the trip once. If you end up renting in Bryan County, Jekyll Island is also within reach for a day trip.
Bottom Line
Renting near Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield comes down to three questions: which gate you’re reporting to, how much commute you’re willing to trade for cost or space, and how quickly you need to move. Once those are answered, narrowing down a county — and then a neighborhood — gets a lot easier.
SouthCoast Properties has managed single-family rental homes across Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, and Effingham counties since 2006, and we work with military families navigating PCS timelines regularly. If you’re house hunting ahead of orders, we’re happy to help you figure out what fits.
