Moving to Fairchild Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Spokane, Washington.
Also known as: Fairchild AFB
Fairchild Air Force Base, west of Spokane in eastern Washington, flies KC-135 refueling tankers and hosts the Air Force survival (SERE) school. Families PCSing here settle in Airway Heights right outside the gate, the college town of Cheney, or west Spokane, in an affordable inland Northwest market with no state income tax.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Should you live on base or off base at Fairchild Air Force Base?
On-base housing serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, Airway Heights sits right outside the gate with newer, affordable homes, Cheney (home to Eastern Washington University) offers good schools and rentals, and west Spokane provides city amenities. Washington has no state income tax, and eastern Washington is much cheaper than the Seattle side.
Where do military families live near Fairchild Air Force Base?
Families PCSing to Fairchild Air Force Base most often settle in Airway Heights, Cheney, West Spokane. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airway Heights | $1,500-$2,000 | $340k-$450k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate with newer, affordable homes. |
| Cheney | $1,450-$1,950 | $320k-$430k | 15-25 min | College town with good schools and rentals to the south. |
| West Spokane | $1,500-$2,050 | $330k-$460k | 15-25 min | City amenities and a range of prices to the east. |
Rent and home-price ranges are typical local market estimates as of 2026-07-19, not official listings. See our methodology.
How much is 2026 BAH at Fairchild Air Force Base?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fairchild Air Force Base is set by the WA310 (Spokane, WA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,184 | $1,665 |
| E-7 | $2,658 | $1,995 |
| O-3 | $2,844 | $2,418 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
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Get my free quotesWhat schools are near Fairchild Air Force Base?
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheney High School | High | Cheney Public Schools | Cheney |
| Medical Lake High School | High | Medical Lake School District | Medical Lake |
| Sunset Elementary | Elementary | Cheney Public Schools | Airway Heights |
Fairchild Air Force Base PCS FAQ
Is eastern Washington cheaper than the Seattle area?
Much cheaper. Spokane and the surrounding eastern Washington area have home prices well below the Puget Sound region around Seattle, while still benefiting from no state income tax. That makes buying with a VA loan realistic near Fairchild, especially in Airway Heights and Cheney close to the base.
Where do most families live near Fairchild AFB?
Airway Heights, right outside the gate, has newer, affordable homes and the shortest commute. Cheney, home to Eastern Washington University, offers good schools and rentals about 15 to 25 minutes south. West Spokane provides more city amenities and a wider range of prices for those who want to be closer to town.
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