Wright-Patterson AFB
Verified profile · 2026-07-01Dayton, OH · ~27,000 assigned
Installation overview
BAH Cost Index
0.95
Median Home Price
$265,000
Average Commute
10–20 min
VA Loan Activity
Moderate
What this installation is
Headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command, home to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center and the Air Force Institute of Technology — a technical/acquisitions-heavy installation with a different family profile than a combat-deployment base: more PhDs and engineers, generally longer tours, and a lower-cost regional housing market.
Editorial guidanceWritten for context, not sourced from official DoD mission statements — see methodology.
BAH & cost of living
Typical monthly BAH at Wright-Patterson AFB
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E4 | $1,533 | $1,338 |
| E6 | $1,851 | $1,617 |
| O3 | $2,097 | $1,830 |
VerifiedReal 2026 DFAS with-dependents rate. Without-dependents figures are estimated — see the full BAH Calculator.
Full calculatorHousing market snapshot
Median home price
$265,000
Average commute
10–20 min
VA loan activity
ModerateRun your own numbers before assuming buying makes sense here — commute and price data above are the inputs, not the verdict.
Compare buying vs. rentingWhere families live
Sort by what matters to you — price, commute, or our recommended order.
VerifiedReviewed by the panel credited at the top of this page — commute and price ranges are directional, not guaranteed for any specific address.
Beavercreek
Very Family-Friendly- Commute
- 8–15 min
- Median price
- $300,000
- Walkability
- Car-Dependent
- Home styles
- Single-family, New construction
Best fit: Top-rated schools, closest upscale option
Schools serving this area
- Valley Elementary — Above Average
- Beavercreek High School — Above Average
Fairborn
Family-Friendly- Commute
- 5–10 min
- Median price
- $225,000
- Walkability
- Somewhat Walkable
- Home styles
- Single-family, Older housing stock
Best fit: Shortest commute, most affordable
Schools serving this area
- Baker Middle School — Average
Centerville
Very Family-Friendly- Commute
- 20–30 min
- Median price
- $320,000
- Walkability
- Somewhat Walkable
- Home styles
- Single-family
Best fit: Upscale, longer commute, strong schools
Kettering
Family-Friendly- Commute
- 18–28 min
- Median price
- $240,000
- Walkability
- Somewhat Walkable
- Home styles
- Single-family
Best fit: Established, mid-cost, good amenities
Schools families ask about most
Valley Elementary
elementary school
Most-recommended elementary for incoming Wright-Patterson families. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 1 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Baker Middle School
middle school
Closest to base; shortest commute of the recommended options. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 1 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Beavercreek High School
high school
Consistently the top-recommended high school for this installation. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 1 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Who's building here
Silver Star Construction
Regional builder with active communities near Nellis AFB and Wright-Patterson AFB, popular with dual-military and technical/acquisitions families.
- Typical price positioning
- $260k–$520k
- Construction style
- Single-family and townhomes, energy-efficient standard packages
- Best-fit buyer
- Longer-tour families (common at both of these installations) who want to buy rather than rent for a multi-year assignment.
Editorial guidanceNot a paid placement — see methodology.
Your relocation, step by step
Orders in hand, plan the move
- Confirm report date and entitlements with your losing unit's admin section
- Decide buy, rent, or wait-and-see for your destination
- Start a PCS folder: orders, LES, dependents' records
Common mistake: Waiting on the housing decision until move week — the best rentals and quick-close new builds get taken early.
Lock the logistics
- Schedule your HHG shipment (or start a PPM/DITY estimate)
- Line up financing pre-approval if buying
- Start the lease or purchase process at your destination
Common mistake: Booking movers at the last minute during peak PCS season (May–August), when good dates disappear fast.
Final details
- Confirm final walkthrough / turnover for on-post housing if applicable
- Transfer or schedule utility disconnect/connect dates
- Update your address with DEERS, banks, and insurance
Common mistake: Forgetting to schedule utility connection at the new home in advance — showing up to a house with no power is common and avoidable.
Get settled
- In-process at your gaining unit and register at the newcomers office
- Enroll kids in school and register vehicles if required by the state
- Confirm your BAH rate actually reflects your new duty station and dependency status
Common mistake: Not double-checking that BAH updated correctly on the first LES at the new station — pay errors are common right after a PCS.
Financing this move
Purchase information first, refinancing later — the order a relocating family actually needs it.
Eligibility
VA Loan Eligibility & Entitlement
Who qualifies, how entitlement is calculated, and how to pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
Read moreBuying here
Already have a VA loan?
The VA IRRRL Refinance
A streamlined refinance for veterans who already have a VA loan — when it helps and when it doesn't.
Read moreLooking for loan assumption or SCRA protections? Those live in the full VA Loan Center.
What a local would tell you
Traffic, weather, utilities, and the things that don't show up in a listing.
Traffic
Commutes here are genuinely easy by military-town standards — most of the recommended neighborhoods are under 20 minutes.
Weather
Four full seasons with real winter snow and ice — plan for actual cold-weather gear, unlike most Southern installations on this list.
Internet
Fiber (AT&T, Spectrum) is broadly available across all four neighborhoods above.
Insurance
Homeowners insurance runs below the national average here — one of the more affordable installations on this list overall.
Veteran Resources
The Dayton VA Medical Center is a full-service regional VA hospital, a genuine advantage over smaller installations.
Live data — coming soonThese notes are written editorially today. Live traffic, weather, and flood-zone data feeds are a planned future integration — see the README’s architecture notes.
Worth reading before you move
SCRA Protections During a PCS
Lease termination rights and interest rate caps every service member should know.
6 min read · Reviewed by Legal review panel
Leaving the Military: A Housing Timeline for Separation
You're not PCSing to a new duty station — here's what to plan for instead, and when.
9 min read · Reviewed by Transition & VA lending panel
Shipping Your Pet and Vehicle During a PCS
What the military covers, what you pay for, and the quarantine paperwork that trips people up.
7 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
Dual-Military PCS: Getting Stationed Together
Join-spouse programs improve your odds of co-location — they don't guarantee it.
7 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
What to do next
Not a funnel — pick whichever actually moves you forward.
Two partners, only if you need them
Homebird
A PCS often means selling at your losing base and buying — or renting — at your gaining one, on a fixed timeline. Homebird runs the whole thing as one coordinated move: sourcing your listing agent and purchasing agent, a right-fit lender, movers, insurance, and getting your new place actually livable — utilities, internet, and home security — whether or not you have an employer relocation benefit.
- 1.Sell your current home — Listing agent sourced and managed for you.
- 2.Buy or rent at your next base — A purchasing agent who knows the area.
- 3.Move in and get connected — Movers, insurance, utilities, internet, and home security — coordinated on your timeline, not pieced together after you arrive.
Opens www.homebird.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage
Salute Mortgage is our financing partner for VA-eligible buyers — including as the right-fit lender inside a Homebird-coordinated move. Check eligibility, run the numbers, and talk to a licensed loan officer when you're ready, not before.
- 1.Confirm eligibility — Pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
- 2.Run the numbers — Compare VA financing against conventional.
- 3.Talk to a loan officer — Only when you're ready to move forward.
Opens salutemortgage.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage LLC — Company NMLS #2601951. Licensed in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify; rates and programs are subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access.