Figure 2-7
Median Monthly Gross Rent in Surrounding Jurisdictions, 2000 – 2010
While BAH rates for Keesler AFB military personal vary by rank and dependent
status, the rate for E1, the lowest rank in the U.S. Air Force, ranges from $882
(single) to $1,098 (with dependents). The BAH rates for E1 are more than the
median monthly rents in each jurisdiction, excluding utilities, insurance, and
other home costs, indicating that housing is affordable for all ranks. Although
rents are currently affordable for military personnel, the trends in gross rents
show that rents have the potential to surpass the lower ranking, single BAH
rates. This could in turn affect military housing on base.
City of D'Iberville
City of Biloxi
2010
Harrison County
2000
Mississippi
$0
$200 $400
$600 $800
$1,000
*Harrison County rent data includes Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Long Beach, and Pass
Christian, and unincorporated Harrison County
Figure 2‐8 shows each jurisdiction’s gross mean rent for 2010 as a percentage
of the 2016 BAH rate for E1 ranking singles. This chart indicates that rents are
overall lower than the lowest BAH rate. The mean gross rent for Mississippi as
a whole is $648, which is approximately 73 percent of the allotted BAH rate
for E1 without dependents. Harrison County is still affordable for military
personnel, although the county’s mean gross rent in 2010 was $844, which is
almost 96 percent of the BAH rate for E1 without dependents.
Source: http://www.keeslerfamilyhousing.com/
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Median Gross Rent (Dollars) 2000, 2010
For all jurisdictions, the median rent increased between 2000 and 2010. The
greatest increase in rent is Biloxi which experienced a decrease in housing
units during the same timeframe. The rent in D’Iberville was the greatest out
of the jurisdictions in 2000, which was approximately 49 percent higher than
the state as a whole. In 2010, D’Iberville had the lowest rent out of the
jurisdictions, but was still greater than Mississippi as a whole.
Table 2‐6 lists the 2016 BAH associated with the ranks for the Keesler AFB
area. The BAH is a stipend given to military personnel who choose to live off
base or cannot be accommodated in on‐base housing, and is designed to
augment the costs of living associated with private sector housing, including
home or apartment rent, utilities, and renter’s insurance.
Background Report
Page 2‐19