Moving to NAS Lemoore
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Lemoore, California.
Also known as: Lemoore
Naval Air Station Lemoore, in California’s Central Valley, is the Navy’s West Coast master jet base and home to F-35C and F/A-18 squadrons. Families PCSing here settle in Lemoore and nearby Hanford, in an agricultural inland market far more affordable than coastal California, where buying with a VA loan is realistic.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves families given the somewhat remote valley location, with the usual waitlists. Off-base, the town of Lemoore sits closest to the gate, Hanford is the larger nearby town with more amenities and schools, and Visalia to the east offers a bigger city with a range of prices. Central Valley prices are well below coastal California, so buying is common.
Where military families live near NAS Lemoore
Families PCSing to NAS Lemoore most often settle in Lemoore, Hanford, Visalia. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemoore | $1,500-$2,000 | $320k-$430k | 5-15 min | Closest to the gate with a small-town feel. |
| Hanford | $1,550-$2,050 | $330k-$440k | 15-25 min | Larger nearby town with more amenities and schools. |
| Visalia | $1,600-$2,150 | $350k-$470k | 35-45 min | Bigger city to the east with a range of prices. |
2026 BAH near NAS Lemoore
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at NAS Lemoore is set by the CA023 (Lemoore NAS, CA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,139 | $1,680 |
| E-7 | $2,337 | $1,950 |
| O-3 | $2,451 | $2,220 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near NAS Lemoore
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemoore High School | High | Lemoore Union High School District | Lemoore |
| Hanford High School | High | Hanford Joint Union High | Hanford |
| Akers Elementary | Elementary | Central Union Elementary | Lemoore |
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Is NAS Lemoore affordable compared to other California bases?
Much more affordable. Lemoore sits in the Central Valley, where home prices are far below coastal California, so buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks. The trade-off is a more rural, agricultural setting and hot summers, but families get real value and space compared with San Diego or the Bay Area.
Where do most families live near NAS Lemoore?
The town of Lemoore sits closest to the gate with a small-town feel. Hanford, a larger nearby town, has more amenities and schools and draws many families. Visalia, a bigger city about 40 minutes east, offers more options. The Central Valley’s low prices make buying common.
Related bases
Beale Air Force Base
Marysville, California
Air ForceTravis Air Force Base
Fairfield, California
Side-by-side comparisons: NAS Lemoore vs Beale Air Force BaseNAS Lemoore vs Travis Air Force Base
More: Navy bases · Bases in California