Moving to Maxwell Air Force Base
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Montgomery, Alabama.
Also known as: Maxwell AFB, Maxwell-Gunter
Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, Alabama, is the intellectual center of the Air Force, home to Air University and its professional military education. Families PCSing here settle in Montgomery, Prattville, or Pike Road, in an affordable Deep South capital-city market with a range of schools and low home prices.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-base housing at Maxwell and Gunter serves families with the usual waitlists. Off-base, east Montgomery and the Cloverdale area offer established neighborhoods near base, Prattville across the river draws families for its top schools, and Pike Road is a fast-growing area with newer homes. Low prices make buying with a VA loan realistic for most ranks.
Where military families live near Maxwell Air Force Base
Families PCSing to Maxwell Air Force Base most often settle in East Montgomery, Prattville, Pike Road. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Montgomery | $1,150-$1,600 | $200k-$300k | 10-20 min | Established neighborhoods near base with the most inventory. |
| Prattville | $1,300-$1,800 | $240k-$350k | 20-30 min | Top schools across the river in Autauga County; family favorite. |
| Pike Road | $1,400-$1,900 | $280k-$390k | 20-30 min | Fast-growing area with newer homes and a new school district. |
2026 BAH near Maxwell Air Force Base
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Maxwell Air Force Base is set by the AL005 (Montgomery, AL) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,683 | $1,431 |
| E-7 | $1,818 | $1,605 |
| O-3 | $1,932 | $1,725 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Maxwell Air Force Base
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prattville High School | High | Autauga County Schools | Prattville |
| Pike Road High School | High | Pike Road Schools | Pike Road |
| Blount Elementary | Elementary | Montgomery Public Schools | Montgomery |
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Where do most families live near Maxwell AFB?
East Montgomery has the most inventory near base. Prattville, across the river in Autauga County, is the family favorite for its top schools, about 20 to 30 minutes away. Pike Road is a fast-growing area with newer homes and its own new school district. Low prices make buying common across all three.
Is Montgomery affordable for military families?
Yes. Montgomery has home prices well below the national average, so buying with a VA loan is easy for most ranks and BAH covers a mortgage comfortably. The choice usually comes down to schools: Prattville and Pike Road draw families for their districts, while east Montgomery offers convenience and value near base.
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