If you have orders to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, welcome to coastal North Carolina. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for a duty-station move. MCAS Cherry Point sits in Havelock, a small city about halfway between New Bern and Morehead City, surrounded by pine forest, tidal rivers, and some of the most accessible beach on the East Coast. This 2026 guide covers what to expect when you move there, from housing and BAH to schools, healthcare, and what to do once you are settled.
A move has a lot of moving parts. Our goal is to make the Cherry Point piece feel manageable.
What and Where Is MCAS Cherry Point?
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is a U.S. Marine Corps installation in Havelock, North Carolina, in Craven County. It sits on the south shore of the Neuse River, roughly 140 miles southeast of Raleigh.
According to the MCAS Cherry Point website, the installation is the headquarters of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (2nd MAW), the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. The 2nd MAW provides fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for the Marine Corps' eastern forces. The air station is also home to Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), which provides maintenance, engineering, and logistics support to generate combat air power for America's Marines.
In practical terms, this is a large, mission-driven installation with a strong community and immediate access to the Carolina coast.
Where to Live When PCSing to MCAS Cherry Point
Most families moving to Cherry Point either live on the installation or settle in one of the surrounding towns. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the lifestyle you want.
Approximate one-way drive times to MCAS Cherry Point. Times vary with traffic and gate used.
Havelock
Havelock is the city immediately surrounding the installation. It is the most practical choice for short commutes, with the main gate just minutes from most neighborhoods. You will find a mix of established homes, rentals, and new construction, along with shopping and restaurants that serve a heavily military-connected community. Many families start here and stay.
Newport
Newport is about 20 minutes southwest of the installation, sitting between Havelock and Morehead City. It is a quieter, small-town option with a mix of homes and land. Families who want a little more space and a slightly different feel often look here, and the commute remains reasonable.
Morehead City
Morehead City is roughly 25 minutes south, on the waterfront of Bogue Sound. It is a working port town with restaurants, marinas, and easy access to Atlantic Beach and the Crystal Coast barrier islands. If waterfront living and weekend beach access matter to you, Morehead City is worth a serious look.
New Bern
New Bern sits about 25 minutes northwest along the Trent and Neuse rivers. It is the largest city in the area and one of the most historically significant towns in North Carolina, founded in 1710 as the colony's first permanent capital. New Bern offers a wide range of housing, a lively downtown, and strong amenities. It is a strong choice for families who want a city feel without a long commute.
Beaufort
Beaufort (pronounced BOH-fert locally) is about 30 minutes south, across the Newport River from Morehead City. It is one of the oldest towns in North Carolina, with a quiet waterfront historic district and access to Cape Lookout National Seashore. Families who want a distinctive small-town setting and do not mind the drive often love it here.
MCAS Cherry Point BAH and the Cost of Living
If you live off the installation, the military helps cover your housing costs through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Department of Defense uses to set local housing pay. MCAS Cherry Point falls within the Havelock–Cherry Point, North Carolina Military Housing Area.
Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. Use the official DoD BAH calculator: travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your rank and ZIP code to see the current rate.
For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Havelock was about $166,000 in mid-2026, according to Zillow — a typical value, not a median sale price. In New Bern, the typical home value was approximately $283,000 over the same period, according to Zillow. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. To understand how your VA loan benefit works in this market, read our guide on what are the benefits of a VA loan.
Schools Near MCAS Cherry Point
The schools your children attend depend on where you live. Two civilian districts serve the area around the installation.
Craven County Schools serves Havelock and New Bern and most of the communities closest to the installation. The district operates a dedicated Military Families Liaison Program with a Military Liaison Counselor and a MCAS Cherry Point School Liaison assigned to support military-connected students and families through enrollment, transitions, and academic continuity. Craven County is one of only a small number of North Carolina districts to earn the Purple Star Award for extraordinary support of military students and families.
Carteret County Public Schools serves Newport, Morehead City, Beaufort, and the rest of Carteret County. The district covers kindergarten through grade 12 and has earned strong academic marks, including being recognized as among the top districts in North Carolina in reading, math, and science.
School attendance zones can shift. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit to a lease or purchase.
