Moving to Hanscom Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Bedford, Massachusetts.
Also known as: Hanscom AFB
Hanscom Air Force Base, northwest of Boston, is a center for electronic-systems and IT acquisition rather than flying operations. Families PCSing here settle in Bedford, Burlington, or the more affordable towns to the north and west, in one of the most expensive housing markets of any base, where BAH is set high to match.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing is in high demand given Greater Boston prices, with waitlists common. Off-base, Bedford and Burlington sit closest to the gate, Lexington and Concord offer top schools at a premium, and towns like Billerica, Chelmsford, and Nashua (New Hampshire) provide more value farther out. Boston-area prices are very high, so base housing is often the practical choice.
Where military families live near Hanscom Air Force Base
Families PCSing to Hanscom Air Force Base most often settle in Bedford / Burlington, Billerica / Chelmsford, Nashua, NH. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford / Burlington | $2,600-$3,600 | $650k-$900k | 5-15 min | Closest to the gate with good schools; convenient but pricey. |
| Billerica / Chelmsford | $2,400-$3,300 | $580k-$780k | 15-25 min | More value with a range of prices to the north. |
| Nashua, NH | $2,200-$3,000 | $520k-$700k | 25-40 min | No state income tax and lower prices across the New Hampshire line. |
2026 BAH near Hanscom Air Force Base
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Hanscom Air Force Base is set by the MA377 (Hanscom AFB, MA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $4,188 | $3,516 |
| E-7 | $4,584 | $3,993 |
| O-3 | $4,770 | $4,371 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Hanscom Air Force Base
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford High School | High | Bedford Public Schools | Bedford |
| Burlington High School | High | Burlington Public Schools | Burlington |
| Hanscom Primary School | Elementary | Lincoln Public Schools | Hanscom AFB |
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Get my free quotesHanscom Air Force Base PCS FAQ
Is Hanscom AFB expensive to live near?
Yes, very. Greater Boston is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country, so BAH at Hanscom is among the highest anywhere to match. On-base housing is in high demand. Off-base, Bedford and Burlington are convenient but pricey, while towns to the north and Nashua, New Hampshire offer more value.
Where do families live near Hanscom AFB?
Bedford and Burlington sit closest to the gate with good schools. Lexington and Concord offer top schools at a premium. For more value, families look to Billerica and Chelmsford, or across the line to Nashua, New Hampshire, which has no state income tax. Base housing is often the practical choice.
Related bases
Naval Station Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
JointJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Wrightstown, New Jersey
Side-by-side comparisons: Hanscom Air Force Base vs Naval Station NewportHanscom Air Force Base vs Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst