Moving to Fort Irwin
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Barstow, California.
Also known as: NTC, National Training Center
Fort Irwin, home of the National Training Center, sits in a remote stretch of the Mojave Desert northeast of Barstow, California. Because of its isolation, nearly all families PCSing here live on post, with the nearest town, Barstow, about 40 minutes away. It is one of the most remote assignments in the Army.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
Because Fort Irwin is so isolated, on-post housing through Villages at Fort Irwin is where nearly all families live, and it is central to daily life rather than a fallback. The nearest town, Barstow, is roughly 40 minutes south along Fort Irwin Road and offers limited off-post rentals and shopping. Most families rely on the on-post community.
Where military families live near Fort Irwin
Families PCSing to Fort Irwin most often settle in On post, Barstow, Yermo / Silver Lakes. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| On post (Villages at Fort Irwin) | BAH-based | On-post only | 0 min | Where nearly all families live given the isolation; full community on base. |
| Barstow | $1,100-$1,600 | $220k-$320k | 40-50 min | Nearest town about 40 minutes south; limited rentals and shopping. |
| Yermo / Silver Lakes | $1,050-$1,500 | $210k-$300k | 30-45 min | Small desert communities between post and Barstow. |
2026 BAH near Fort Irwin
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Irwin is set by the CA028 (Barstow/Fort Irwin, CA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,001 | $1,695 |
| E-7 | $2,547 | $1,911 |
| O-3 | $2,748 | $2,274 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Irwin
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Valley High School | High | Silver Valley Unified | Yermo |
| Fort Irwin Middle School | Middle | Silver Valley Unified | Fort Irwin |
| Tiefort View Elementary | Elementary | Silver Valley Unified | Fort Irwin |
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Get my free quotesFort Irwin PCS FAQ
Do most families live on post at Fort Irwin?
Yes. Fort Irwin is one of the most isolated posts in the Army, sitting deep in the Mojave Desert about 40 minutes from the nearest town. Because of that, nearly all families live in on-post housing, which functions as a self-contained community with schools, shopping, and services on base.
What is the nearest town to Fort Irwin?
Barstow, roughly 40 minutes south along Fort Irwin Road, is the nearest town, with basic shopping and limited off-post rentals. Larger cities like Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area are a few hours away. The remoteness is the defining feature of a Fort Irwin assignment, so plan for a tight-knit on-post life.
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More: Army bases · Bases in California