Moving to Buckley Space Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Aurora, Colorado.
Also known as: Buckley SFB, Buckley AFB
Buckley Space Force Base, in Aurora on the east side of the Denver metro, supports missile-warning and space operations. Families PCSing here settle in Aurora right outside the gate or the southern suburbs of Centennial and Parker, drawn by top Cherry Creek schools and Front Range access, in a market that has grown pricier with Denver.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Aurora wraps around the gate with the widest range of prices, while the southern suburbs of Centennial and Parker draw families for the top-rated Cherry Creek and Douglas County schools. Denver-area prices have climbed, so buying takes a solid allowance or dual income, but demand stays strong.
Where military families live near Buckley Space Force Base
Families PCSing to Buckley Space Force Base most often settle in Aurora, Centennial, Parker. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.
| Area | 3-bed rent | Home prices | To gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora (Southlands) | $1,800-$2,500 | $420k-$580k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate with newer neighborhoods and the widest price range. |
| Centennial | $2,000-$2,700 | $500k-$680k | 15-25 min | Top-rated Cherry Creek schools southwest of base; family favorite. |
| Parker | $1,950-$2,600 | $480k-$650k | 20-30 min | Newer suburban homes and strong schools to the south. |
2026 BAH near Buckley Space Force Base
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Buckley Space Force Base is set by the CO045 (Denver, CO) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,841 | $2,148 |
| E-7 | $3,114 | $2,568 |
| O-3 | $3,207 | $2,979 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Buckley Space Force Base
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandview High School | High | Cherry Creek School District | Aurora |
| Cherokee Trail High School | High | Cherry Creek School District | Aurora |
| Antelope Ridge Elementary | Elementary | Cherry Creek School District | Aurora |
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Where do most families live near Buckley Space Force Base?
Aurora, right outside the gate, has newer neighborhoods near Southlands and the widest range of prices. The southern suburbs of Centennial and Parker are family favorites for the top-rated Cherry Creek and Douglas County schools, about 15 to 30 minutes away. Many families prioritize school district when choosing.
Is the Denver area expensive for military families?
Prices have risen well above the national average with the region’s growth. Aurora near Buckley offers the best value in the metro, while the southern suburbs cost more for their highly rated schools. BAH is set to Denver costs, but buying usually takes a solid allowance or dual income compared with lower-cost posts.
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More: Space Force bases · Bases in Colorado