Moving to Edwards Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Lancaster, California.
Also known as: Edwards AFB
Edwards Air Force Base, on a dry lakebed in California’s Mojave Desert, is the Air Force’s flight-test center and home to test pilot school and experimental aviation. Families PCSing here live on base or in the Antelope Valley cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, in an affordable high-desert market well below coastal California prices.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing is popular given the base’s remote desert location, with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Rosamond and California City sit closest to the gate as small desert towns, while Lancaster and Palmdale in the Antelope Valley offer the most inventory, shopping, and schools about 40 minutes south. Antelope Valley prices are far below coastal California, so buying is common.
Where military families live near Edwards Air Force Base
Families PCSing to Edwards Air Force Base most often settle in Rosamond, Lancaster, Palmdale. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosamond | $1,500-$2,000 | $320k-$430k | 15-25 min | Small desert town closest to the main gate. |
| Lancaster | $1,700-$2,300 | $380k-$500k | 35-50 min | Most inventory, shopping, and schools in the Antelope Valley. |
| Palmdale | $1,750-$2,350 | $400k-$520k | 40-55 min | Newer neighborhoods and value south of Lancaster. |
2026 BAH near Edwards Air Force Base
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Edwards Air Force Base is set by the CA457 (Edwards AFB/Palmdale, CA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,658 | $2,148 |
| E-7 | $3,195 | $2,481 |
| O-3 | $3,264 | $2,976 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Edwards Air Force Base
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Hill High School | High | Antelope Valley Union HSD | Quartz Hill |
| Rosamond High School | High | Southern Kern Unified | Rosamond |
| Branch Elementary | Elementary | Muroc Joint Unified | Edwards AFB |
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What is it like living at Edwards AFB?
It is remote high desert. Edwards sits on a dry lakebed in the Mojave, so many families live on base for the short commute, while others choose Rosamond nearby or the larger Antelope Valley cities of Lancaster and Palmdale about 40 minutes south. Summers are hot and dry, with wide-open desert scenery.
Is the Antelope Valley affordable?
Yes, by California standards. Lancaster, Palmdale, and Rosamond have home prices far below coastal California, so buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks. The high-desert location keeps prices down, and BAH set to the local market typically supports a mortgage in the valley cities.
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Nellis Air Force Base
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More: Air Force bases · Bases in California