Air Force Omaha metro

Moving to Offutt Air Force Base

Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Bellevue, Nebraska.

Also known as: Offutt AFB

$2,085 E-5 BAH / month
Branch
Air Force
Personnel
9,000 +
Nearest city
Bellevue, NE
Cost of living
Moderate

Offutt Air Force Base, just south of Omaha, Nebraska, is home to U.S. Strategic Command and the 55th Wing. Families PCSing here settle in Bellevue right outside the gate or the growing suburb of Papillion, in an affordable Midwest metro with strong schools and low home prices.

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, Bellevue wraps around the gate with the most inventory and shortest commute, Papillion and La Vista offer newer suburbs and top-rated schools, and greater Omaha provides big-metro amenities a short drive north. Low prices make buying with a VA loan common.

Where military families live near Offutt Air Force Base

Families PCSing to Offutt Air Force Base most often settle in Bellevue, Papillion / La Vista, Omaha. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.

Area3-bed rentHome pricesTo gateNotes
Bellevue $1,200-$1,700 $230k-$330k 5-15 min Right outside the gate; most inventory and shortest commute.
Papillion / La Vista $1,400-$1,950 $280k-$400k 10-20 min Newer suburbs with top-rated schools; family favorite.
Omaha (south/west) $1,350-$1,900 $270k-$390k 15-30 min Big-metro amenities and range of prices to the north.

2026 BAH near Offutt Air Force Base

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Offutt Air Force Base is set by the NE192 (Omaha/Offutt AFB, NE) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.

Pay gradeWith dependentsWithout dependents
E-5 $2,085 $1,587
E-7 $2,457 $1,893
O-3 $2,601 $2,268

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

Schools near Offutt Air Force Base

SchoolLevelDistrictTown
Papillion-La Vista South High School High Papillion La Vista Schools Papillion
Bellevue West High School High Bellevue Public Schools Bellevue
Peter Sarpy Elementary Elementary Bellevue Public Schools Bellevue

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Offutt Air Force Base PCS FAQ

Where do families live near Offutt AFB?

Bellevue, right outside the gate, has the most housing and the shortest commute, making it the default. Papillion and La Vista offer newer suburbs and top-rated schools a bit farther out and are popular with families. Greater Omaha, a short drive north, adds big-metro amenities with a range of prices.

Is Omaha affordable for military families?

Yes. The Omaha metro has home prices near or below the national average and strong schools, so buying with a VA loan is realistic for most ranks. Offutt’s stable Strategic Command workforce supports a healthy resale and rental market, which helps families who buy and later PCS out.

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