Moving to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Tucson, Arizona.
Also known as: Davis-Monthan AFB, DM
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, Arizona, flies the A-10 and hosts the massive aircraft "Boneyard." Families PCSing here settle in east Tucson, Vail, or the Rita Ranch area near the gate, where lower prices than Phoenix and a sunny desert lifestyle make buying with a VA loan common.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing serves families near the flightline, with the usual waitlists. Off-base, the Rita Ranch and Vail area sit closest to the gate with newer master-planned homes and top schools, east Tucson offers the most established inventory, and central Tucson provides lower prices. Tucson runs cheaper than Phoenix, so buying is popular.
Where military families live near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Families PCSing to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base most often settle in Rita Ranch / Vail, East Tucson, Central Tucson. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rita Ranch / Vail | $1,500-$2,000 | $320k-$430k | 5-15 min | Closest to the gate with newer homes and the top-rated Vail schools. |
| East Tucson | $1,350-$1,850 | $280k-$390k | 10-20 min | Established neighborhoods with the most inventory near base. |
| Central Tucson | $1,250-$1,700 | $250k-$350k | 15-25 min | Lower prices and a shorter drive to downtown amenities. |
2026 BAH near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is set by the AZ015 (Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,905 | $1,428 |
| E-7 | $2,145 | $1,701 |
| O-3 | $2,199 | $2,037 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cienega High School | High | Vail School District | Vail |
| Old Vail Middle School | Middle | Vail School District | Tucson |
| Acacia Elementary | Elementary | Vail School District | Vail |
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Where do families live near Davis-Monthan AFB?
The Rita Ranch and Vail area, closest to the gate, is the most popular for families thanks to newer master-planned homes and the top-rated Vail School District. East Tucson has the most established inventory near base, and central Tucson offers lower prices with a slightly longer drive.
Is Tucson cheaper than Phoenix for military families?
Generally yes. Tucson home prices and rents run lower than metro Phoenix, so a housing allowance stretches further at Davis-Monthan than at Luke AFB. The Vail School District near the base is well regarded, which makes the Rita Ranch area a popular and affordable choice for buying with a VA loan.
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