I have gotten alot of flack from my KD's about running 50%+ homes to maintain my BE.
But at the end of the day I know that I will be chained sooner or later...
Going into a chain with 50% home and building all homes with incoming land to the point of 90% homes at 400 acres... you can maintain those less than 100 peasants,
And still sustain the majority of your military without overpop.
The rebound is what I always play for...
Generally, When I get fully chained I look to be around roughly half my original size fully pumped by the end of the war. If not more.