Air Force Metro East St. Louis

Moving to Scott Air Force Base

Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to O'Fallon, Illinois.

Also known as: Scott AFB

$1,542 E-5 BAH / month
Branch
Air Force
Personnel
13,000 +
Nearest city
O'Fallon, IL
Cost of living
Low

Scott Air Force Base, in the Metro East area across the river from St. Louis, hosts U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command. Families PCSing here settle in O’Fallon, Shiloh, or Mascoutah, in an affordable Illinois-side market with strong schools and easy access to the St. Louis metro.

Last updated: 2026-07-19

Should you live on base or off base at Scott Air Force Base?

On-base housing serves families near the flightline, with the usual waitlists. Off-base, O’Fallon and Shiloh are the family favorites for schools and newer neighborhoods, Mascoutah sits right by the base with the shortest commute, and Belleville offers the most affordable inventory. Low Metro East prices make buying with a VA loan common.

Where do military families live near Scott Air Force Base?

Families PCSing to Scott Air Force Base most often settle in O'Fallon / Shiloh, Mascoutah, Belleville. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.

Area3-bed rentHome pricesTo gateNotes
O'Fallon / Shiloh $1,250-$1,750 $240k-$350k 10-20 min Family favorites with strong schools and newer neighborhoods.
Mascoutah $1,150-$1,600 $220k-$320k 5-10 min Right by the base with the shortest commute and small-town feel.
Belleville $1,050-$1,500 $180k-$280k 15-25 min Most affordable inventory and a larger town nearby.

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 Scott Air Force Base?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Scott Air Force Base is set by the IL093 (Scott AFB, IL) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.

Pay gradeWith dependentsWithout dependents
E-5 $1,542 $1,422
E-7 $2,076 $1,557
O-3 $2,208 $1,830

Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.

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What schools are near Scott Air Force Base?

SchoolLevelDistrictTown
O'Fallon Township High School High O’Fallon Township HSD 203 O'Fallon
Mascoutah High School High Mascoutah CUSD 19 Mascoutah
Hickory/Wren Hollow Elementary Elementary O'Fallon CCSD 90 O'Fallon

Scott Air Force Base PCS FAQ

Where do most families live near Scott AFB?

O’Fallon and Shiloh are the family favorites for their strong schools and newer neighborhoods, about 10 to 20 minutes from base. Mascoutah sits right by the gate with the shortest commute and a small-town feel. Belleville offers the most affordable homes and a larger town a bit farther out.

How close is Scott AFB to St. Louis?

Scott AFB is about 25 miles east of downtown St. Louis in the Metro East area of Illinois, roughly a 30-minute drive. Families get the affordability of the Illinois side while still reaching St. Louis for jobs, sports, and amenities. MetroLink light rail also connects the base area to the city.

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