Schofield Barracks
Verified profile · 2026-08-05Wahiawa, HI · ~15,000 assigned
Installation overview
BAH Cost Index
2.00
Median Home Price
$750,000
Average Commute
10–30 min
VA Loan Activity
High
What this installation is
Home of the 25th Infantry Division — "Tropic Lightning" — the Army's primary combat formation in the INDOPACOM theater, on Oahu's Central Plateau. Deployment and Pacific Pathways rotational tempo runs high despite the dream-assignment reputation; Schofield is genuinely one of the best CONUS-equivalent quality-of-life postings in the Army and genuinely demanding operationally and expensive financially, both at once.
Editorial guidanceWritten for context, not sourced from official DoD mission statements — see methodology.
BAH & cost of living
Typical monthly BAH at Schofield Barracks
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E4 | $3,333 | $2,910 |
| E6 | $3,912 | $3,414 |
| O3 | $4,428 | $3,867 |
VerifiedReal 2026 DFAS with-dependents rate. Without-dependents figures are estimated — see the full BAH Calculator.
Full calculatorHousing market snapshot
Median home price
$750,000
Average commute
10–30 min
VA loan activity
HighHigh VA loan activity here usually means agents and lenders are used to VA timelines and appraisal requirements — that's a real advantage over an installation where VA loans are rare.
Compare buying vs. rentingWhere families live
Sort by what matters to you — price, commute, or our recommended order.
VerifiedReviewed by the panel credited at the top of this page — commute and price ranges are directional, not guaranteed for any specific address.
Mililani
Very Family-Friendly- Commute
- 10–15 min
- Median price
- $800,000
- Walkability
- Car-Dependent
- Home styles
- Single-family, New construction
Best fit: Strongest local schools, dominant family choice, newer construction
Wahiawa
Family-Friendly- Commute
- 5–10 min
- Median price
- $550,000
- Walkability
- Somewhat Walkable
- Home styles
- Single-family, Older construction
Best fit: Closest to post, most affordable, tight-knit military community
Waipio / Waikele
Family-Friendly- Commute
- 15–20 min
- Median price
- $700,000
- Walkability
- Car-Dependent
- Home styles
- Single-family, Townhomes
Best fit: Newer homes, moderate commute
North Shore (Haleiwa, Mokuleia)
Mixed- Commute
- 30–45 min
- Median price
- $900,000
- Walkability
- Car-Dependent
- Home styles
- Single-family
Best fit: Surf lifestyle; limited, competitive rentals
Schools families ask about most
Individual school profiles for this installation haven’t been built yet.
Who's building here
No builder profiles for this installation yet.
Your relocation, step by step
Orders in hand, plan the move
- Confirm report date and entitlements with your losing unit's admin section
- Decide buy, rent, or wait-and-see for your destination
- Start a PCS folder: orders, LES, dependents' records
Common mistake: Waiting on the housing decision until move week — the best rentals and quick-close new builds get taken early.
Lock the logistics
- Schedule your HHG shipment (or start a PPM/DITY estimate)
- Line up financing pre-approval if buying
- Start the lease or purchase process at your destination
Common mistake: Booking movers at the last minute during peak PCS season (May–August), when good dates disappear fast.
Final details
- Confirm final walkthrough / turnover for on-post housing if applicable
- Transfer or schedule utility disconnect/connect dates
- Update your address with DEERS, banks, and insurance
Common mistake: Forgetting to schedule utility connection at the new home in advance — showing up to a house with no power is common and avoidable.
Get settled
- In-process at your gaining unit and register at the newcomers office
- Enroll kids in school and register vehicles if required by the state
- Confirm your BAH rate actually reflects your new duty station and dependency status
Common mistake: Not double-checking that BAH updated correctly on the first LES at the new station — pay errors are common right after a PCS.
Financing this move
Purchase information first, refinancing later — the order a relocating family actually needs it.
Eligibility
VA Loan Eligibility & Entitlement
Who qualifies, how entitlement is calculated, and how to pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
Read moreBuying here
Already have a VA loan?
The VA IRRRL Refinance
A streamlined refinance for veterans who already have a VA loan — when it helps and when it doesn't.
Read moreLooking for loan assumption or SCRA protections? Those live in the full VA Loan Center.
What a local would tell you
Traffic, weather, utilities, and the things that don't show up in a listing.
Traffic
The H-1/H-2 interchange is one of the worst commute corridors in the country by per-mile time cost — Schofield commuters from Mililani or further cross it daily. Test your actual commute time before committing to a neighborhood.
Cost of Living
Off-base groceries run 30–50% above mainland prices; the Commissary is essential and a Costco membership typically pays for itself within months. Hawaii state income tax applies to spouse income.
Weather
Tropical climate, 70–85°F year-round with minimal seasonal variation and persistent humidity. Hurricane risk runs June through November, though most storms miss Hawaii; mold control (dehumidifiers) is a real, ongoing cost in every home.
Veteran Resources
Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu is the major Army medical facility in the Pacific — full ED, OB, and comprehensive specialty care. Drive time from Schofield runs 35–60 minutes depending on H-1 traffic.
Recreation
The North Shore's winter surf season (November–February) produces some of the most famous waves in the world at Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay — a genuinely irreplaceable benefit of this specific duty station.
Live data — coming soonThese notes are written editorially today. Live traffic, weather, and flood-zone data feeds are a planned future integration — see the README’s architecture notes.
Worth reading before you move
SCRA Protections During a PCS
Lease termination rights and interest rate caps every service member should know.
6 min read · Reviewed by Legal review panel
Leaving the Military: A Housing Timeline for Separation
You're not PCSing to a new duty station — here's what to plan for instead, and when.
9 min read · Reviewed by Transition & VA lending panel
PCS to Hawaii: The Complete Checklist
Shipping timelines, vehicle rules, and housing math for an OCONUS move.
11 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
OCONUS Moves: What Changes Beyond Hawaii
Command sponsorship, passports, and the OHA/COLA/MIHA allowances that replace BAH overseas.
9 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
What to do next
Not a funnel — pick whichever actually moves you forward.
Two partners, only if you need them
Homebird
A PCS often means selling at your losing base and buying — or renting — at your gaining one, on a fixed timeline. Homebird runs the whole thing as one coordinated move: sourcing your listing agent and purchasing agent, a right-fit lender, movers, insurance, and getting your new place actually livable — utilities, internet, and home security — whether or not you have an employer relocation benefit.
- 1.Sell your current home — Listing agent sourced and managed for you.
- 2.Buy or rent at your next base — A purchasing agent who knows the area.
- 3.Move in and get connected — Movers, insurance, utilities, internet, and home security — coordinated on your timeline, not pieced together after you arrive.
Opens www.homebird.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage
Salute Mortgage is our financing partner for VA-eligible buyers — including as the right-fit lender inside a Homebird-coordinated move. Check eligibility, run the numbers, and talk to a licensed loan officer when you're ready, not before.
- 1.Confirm eligibility — Pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
- 2.Run the numbers — Compare VA financing against conventional.
- 3.Talk to a loan officer — Only when you're ready to move forward.
Opens salutemortgage.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage LLC — Company NMLS #2601951. Licensed in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify; rates and programs are subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access.