New Jersey
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
📍 Trenton, New Jersey
The Department of Defense's only tri-service joint base, hosting Air Force KC-46 tankers, C-17 airlift, and Army and Navy training commands near Trenton.
BAH Rates
MHA: NJ004 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,487/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,904/mo
E-5 without Dependents$2,142/mo
O-3 with Dependents$3,669/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,973/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: United Communities manages privatized housing — single-family homes and townhomes across Falcon Courts East, Falcon Courts West, and Army housing areas; wait times vary by rank, typically 1-4 months
- Off-base: Most off-base families settle in Bordentown, Chesterfield, Wrightstown, and Mansfield; rentals range $1,600-$3,200/month; BAH covers well in this area
- Top pick: Bordentown City — charming historic river town with walkable downtown, 15 min from base, highly rated restaurants and shops
- BAH: New Jersey property taxes are among the highest in the nation — factor into off-base purchase decisions; on-base housing avoids this
- Note: New housing construction in Falcon Courts East completed 2023; newer homes available for E-6 and above
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Bordentown City — Historic river town with cobblestone streets, 15-min commute, top-rated restaurants, strong community feel, popular with officer families
- Wrightstown — Closest town to base, 5-min commute, mix of rentals and older homes, convenient but less dining/shopping than Bordentown
- Mount Laurel — Larger suburb 25-min west, excellent schools, abundant shopping on Route 38, popular with families wanting more suburban amenities
- Hamilton Township — 20-min northwest near Trenton, diverse housing stock from apartments to large colonials, easy access to NJ Transit for Philly/NYC commutes
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
McGuire Elementary (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base at McGuire
North Hanover Township Elementary⭐ 6/10
Close to base
Bustleton Elementary⭐ 5/10
Near McGuire
🏫 Middle Schools
Northern Burlington Middle⭐ 6/10
Columbus area
Pemberton Township Middle⭐ 4/10
Close to Fort Dix
New Egypt Middle School⭐ 5/10
Plumsted Township
🏫 High Schools
Northern Burlington High⭐ 6/10
Solid regional high school
Pemberton Township High⭐ 4/10
Close to Fort Dix
Bordentown Regional High⭐ 5/10
Nearby alternative
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Route 68/Wrightstown) — Primary gate, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM), 24/7, direct access to Air Force side
- Texas Avenue Gate (Fort Dix) — Serves Army side off Route 68, shorter waits, limited hours (typically 0600-1800)
- Pemberton Gate — North entrance accessing Lakehurst side via Route 70, convenient for Manchester/Toms River commuters
- Tip: Avoid Main Gate 7:30-8:15 AM; Wrightstown-Georgia Road and Route 68 back up during shift change; Texas Ave gate is the hidden fast-track
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant provider in Burlington County; cable internet up to 1.2 Gbps; reliable coverage in Bordentown, Wrightstown, and Mount Laurel
- Verizon Fios — Fiber available in Bordentown, Hamilton, and parts of Mount Laurel; symmetrical up to 1 Gbps; top choice where available
- Optimum — Cable service in some areas; speeds up to 1 Gbps; coverage patchy near base
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage throughout the area; $50/month unlimited; solid backup or primary option for rural spots
- Top pick: Verizon Fios fiber where available (Bordentown/Hamilton); Xfinity cable reliable everywhere else
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: McGuire Exchange and commissary — large, well-stocked with grocery, electronics, clothing; Shoppette and Class Six
- Bordentown: Farnsworth Avenue for boutique shopping, antique stores, and local artisan shops; highly rated restaurants like Toscano and Under the Moon
- Hamilton Marketplace (15 min): Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy, and chain dining concentrated along Route 130 corridor
- Moorestown Mall (25 min): Traditional indoor mall with Macy's, Boscov's, and restaurants
- Philadelphia: King of Prussia Mall (50 min) — one of the largest malls in America with 400+ stores; tax-free clothing in NJ
Gyms & Recreation
- McGuire Fitness Centers — Two on-base gyms (McGuire and Dix) with 24/7 access; cardio, free weights, group classes, and indoor track
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Equipment rental for camping, fishing, and water sports; discounted tickets to Six Flags Great Adventure (30 min) and Philly attractions
- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Lake — On-base fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding; stocked lake with bass and trout
- Brendan T. Byrne State Forest — 10 min from base; 25+ miles of hiking, mountain biking trails through classic NJ Pine Barrens
- On-base: Bowling alley, movie theater (free screenings), sports fields, disc golf course, and community center
- Day trips: Philadelphia (35 min to Center City), Jersey Shore (Point Pleasant 45 min, Wildwood 1.5 hrs), New York City (1.5 hrs by car or NJ Transit from Hamilton)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC, DODEA schools — primary local employers for spouses; check USAJobs for GS/N AF positions
- Defense contractors: Boeing (KC-46 sustainment), Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman have positions at McGuire and Lakehurst
- Lakehurst NAWCAD: Major civilian employer — engineering, logistics, and R&D positions for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, including the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS)
- Civilian: Amazon distribution centers in Robbinsville and Burlington (15-20 min) regularly hire for warehouse, logistics, and management roles
- Philadelphia metro: Broader job market accessible — 35-45 min commute to Philly for healthcare (Penn Medicine, Jefferson), finance, tech, and higher education roles
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center offers resume workshops, career fairs, and spouse employment resources
Local Attractions
- Philadelphia — 35 min drive; Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky Steps), Reading Terminal Market, and world-class dining
- Six Flags Great Adventure — 25 min east; one of the largest theme parks in the Northeast with Kingda Ka, the world's tallest roller coaster; includes Wild Safari drive-through
- Jersey Shore — Point Pleasant Beach (45 min) for boardwalk, Jenkinson's Aquarium; Long Beach Island (50 min) for quieter family beaches and Barnegat Lighthouse
- Grounds for Sculpture — 30 min in Hamilton; 42-acre sculpture park and museum with rotating exhibits and an acclaimed restaurant (Rat's)
- New York City — 1.5 hrs by car or NJ Transit from Hamilton station; Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Central Park, and world-class museums
- Princeton — 35 min north; tour the Ivy League campus, shop Palmer Square, visit Princeton Battlefield and the Institute for Advanced Study
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
KC-46 Pegasus on the McGuire flight line at sunrise
nature
New Jersey Pinelands — protected pine barrens surrounding the joint base
neighborhood
Historic Farnsworth Avenue in downtown Bordentown
housing
Family housing in the Falcon Courts East community on base
downtown
Philadelphia skyline at dusk — only 35 minutes from base
restaurant
Classic New Jersey diner — a Garden State institution