Best Bases for Families 2026

Ranked by schools, housing availability, and cost of living for military families. Ranked from all 146 US military installations.

Top 30 — Best Bases for Families
1
Joint Base San Antonio
Air ForceSan Antonio, Texas · 89 schools · 4mo waitlist
$1,890/mo
E-5 BAH
2
Kirtland Air Force Base
Air ForceAlbuquerque, New Mexico · 85 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
3
Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station
Space ForceColorado Springs, Colorado · 85 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
4
Redstone Arsenal
ArmyHuntsville, Alabama · 68 schools · 2mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
5
Fort Bliss
ArmyEl Paso, Texas · 72 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
6
NAS Jacksonville
NavyJacksonville, Florida · 89 schools · 3mo waitlist
$2,016/mo
E-5 BAH
7
Fort Carson
ArmyColorado Springs, Colorado · 89 schools · 5mo waitlist
$2,268/mo
E-5 BAH
8
Fort Liberty
ArmyFayetteville, North Carolina · 67 schools · 6mo waitlist
$1,566/mo
E-5 BAH
9
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Air ForceTucson, Arizona · 72 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,890/mo
E-5 BAH
10
Fort Cavazos
ArmyKilleen, Texas · 58 schools · 7mo waitlist
$1,422/mo
E-5 BAH
11
Fort Eisenhower
ArmyAugusta, Georgia · 54 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,422/mo
E-5 BAH
12
Naval Station Mayport
NavyMayport, Florida · 65 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,620/mo
E-5 BAH
13
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Air ForceDayton, Ohio · 58 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,692/mo
E-5 BAH
14
Fort Jackson
ArmyColumbia, South Carolina · 55 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
15
Tinker Air Force Base
Air ForceMidwest City, Oklahoma · 52 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,494/mo
E-5 BAH
16
Fort Campbell
ArmyClarksville, Kentucky · 52 schools · 4mo waitlist
$1,494/mo
E-5 BAH
17
Nellis Air Force Base
Air ForceLas Vegas, Nevada · 72 schools · 4mo waitlist
$2,142/mo
E-5 BAH
18
Fort Moore
ArmyColumbus, Georgia · 48 schools · 5mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
19
Luke Air Force Base
Air ForceGlendale, Arizona · 72 schools · 4mo waitlist
$2,214/mo
E-5 BAH
20
MacDill Air Force Base
Air ForceTampa, Florida · 72 schools · 5mo waitlist
$2,268/mo
E-5 BAH
21
NAS JRB Fort Worth
NavyFort Worth, Texas · 45 schools · 2mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
22
Sheppard Air Force Base
Air ForceWichita Falls, Texas · 35 schools · 2mo waitlist
$1,206/mo
E-5 BAH
23
USCG Sector Great Lakes
Coast GuardMilwaukee, Illinois · 55 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
24
Joint Base Charleston
Air ForceNorth Charleston, South Carolina · 55 schools · 3mo waitlist
$1,494/mo
E-5 BAH
25
USCG Sector Baltimore
Coast GuardBaltimore, Maryland · 75 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
26
USCG Sector Buffalo
Coast GuardBuffalo, New York · 48 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
27
USCG Sector San Juan
Coast GuardSan Juan, Puerto Rico · 40 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
28
NAS Corpus Christi
NavyCorpus Christi, Texas · 38 schools · 2mo waitlist
$1,296/mo
E-5 BAH
29
USCG Sector Boston
Coast GuardBoston, Massachusetts · 95 schools · 0mo waitlist
$1,044/mo
E-5 BAH
30
Barksdale Air Force Base
Air ForceBossier City, Louisiana · 38 schools · 2mo waitlist
$1,368/mo
E-5 BAH
View all 146 installations →
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