Altus AFB PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Southwest Oklahoma Living

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Altus AFB is home to the 97th Air Mobility Wing (airlift and tanker training - C-17, KC-46, KC-135) with 1,500 active duty personnel. This is an airlift/tanker training mission—teaching pilots and loadmasters to fly cargo aircraft in Southwest Oklahoma. Low cost of living, decent schools, but very remote location.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $600+ buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $950/month (very affordable for Oklahoma)
• School Quality: Altus Public Schools (6-7/10) is decent
• Remote: 2.5 hours from Oklahoma City, 2 hours from Lawton (isolation factor)

What This Guide Covers: Housing with real prices, school ratings, Altus Oklahoma intel, and airlift training mission realities.

Want real-time data? This guide provides 2025 rates and static intel. For live housing prices, current school ratings, and personalized recommendations, use Base Navigator → (Premium)

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Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Altus Air Force Base
• Location: Altus, OK (Jackson County) - adjacent to city, southwest Oklahoma
• Size: 3,700 acres
• Population: 1,500 active duty + 4,000 total (students + civilians)
• Branch: Air Force (AETC - Air Education and Training Command)
• Major Units: 97th Air Mobility Wing (C-17 Globemaster III, KC-46 Pegasus, KC-135 Stratotanker - airlift and tanker training)
• Climate: Continental Southwest Oklahoma—HOT/dry summers (95-105°F), cold winters (25-45°F, wind)
• Nearest Major City: Altus, OK (adjacent, 20K people), Lawton, OK (2 hours north), Oklahoma City, OK (2.5 hours northeast)

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BAH Rates

BAH rates sourced from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), updated annually. See official source →

Key Insight: BAH generously covers rent in all neighborhoods—Altus Public Schools (6-7/10) are decent. E5 BAH (~$1,550) covers median rent ($950) with $600 left over. This is a HIGHEST savings post—low cost of living + generous BAH + LOW Oklahoma income tax (0-4.75%) = save $7,000-8,000/year.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

North Altus (Near Altus High School):

• Median 3BR Rent: $975/month
• Commute: 5-10 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7/10 (Altus Public Schools—best in area)
• Vibe: Small town (20K people), established neighborhoods
• Best Areas: Near Altus High School, Altus Junior High
• Why: Best schools, pocket $575/month

South Altus:

• Median 3BR Rent: $925/month
• Commute: 5-10 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Altus Public Schools)
• Vibe: Quieter, close to base
• Why: Pocket $625/month, very close

On-Base Housing (Privatized - Balfour Beatty):

• Cost: Free (BAH auto-deducted)
• Wait Time: 2-4 months (short wait)
• Quality: 7-8/10 (renovated, good)
• Schools: Bus to Altus Public Schools (6-7/10)
• Why: Convenience, short wait, no commute

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

Downtown Altus:

• Median 3BR Rent: $875/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Altus Public Schools—older schools)
• Vibe: Downtown, older infrastructure
• Trade-off: Cheap but older areas

❌ Tier 3 - Avoid Unless You Know What You're Doing

East Altus:

• Some older areas, limited housing options

Pro Tip: North Altus (7/10 schools, near Altus High) is the gold standard—best schools in area, 5-10 min commute, pocket $575. South Altus (6-7/10 schools) pocket $625, very close to base. On-base wait is SHORT (2-4 months), quality 7-8/10, excellent for instructors. Altus is straightforward—most neighborhoods are solid. This is one of the HIGHEST savings posts in CONUS.

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Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Lark Elementary (Altus) - 7/10 - Best elementary near base
• Altus Elementary (Altus) - 6/10 - Decent

Top Middle Schools

• Altus Junior High (Altus) - 7/10 - Best middle school near base

Top High Schools

• Altus High School (Altus) - 7/10 - Best (only) high school in area

Private Schools

• Altus Christian Academy (Altus) - 6/10 - Christian (K-12, $4K-6K/year)

Schools to Avoid

• None specifically—Altus Public Schools are decent across the board (6-7/10)

School District Strategy: Altus Public Schools (6-7/10) are decent—Lark Elementary and Altus Junior High and Altus High (all 7/10) are best. Private schools very limited—Altus Christian Academy (6/10, $4K-6K/year) is only option. Schools are solid but not exceptional. Very small-town system.

For live school ratings and neighborhood analysis: Base Navigator →

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Local Intel (What You Actually Need to Know)

Cost of Living

Overall: -18% lower — Southwest Oklahoma affordability
Housing: -26% lower — BAH covers rent with $600+ buffer
Groceries: -12% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Utilities: +10% higher — HOT summers + cold winters

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in South Altus): $925
• Utilities (electric + gas): $165 (summer/winter peak: $215-245)
• Groceries: $720
• Gas (commute + errands): $142
• Internet/Streaming: $80
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $275

Total: ~$2,307/month (peak: ~$2,382 with higher utilities)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $1,118-1,193)

State Taxes

• Oklahoma: 0%-4.75% state income tax (graduated, LOW)
• No local taxes: Altus has no additional city tax
• Military Benefit: Active duty can claim home state of record (tax advantage if from no-income-tax state)

BAH Reality: E5 with dependents BAH (~$1,550) covers Altus rent ($925-975) with $575-625 left over. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted). Budget $215-245/month for summer/winter utility spikes (HOT summers + cold winters).

Pro Tip: North Altus or South Altus = sweet spot (pocket $575-625/month, 6-7/10 schools). LOW cost of living + generous BAH + LOW Oklahoma income tax (0-4.75%) = save $7,000-8,000/year. Budget extra $600-800/year for summer/winter utility spikes. This is a wealth-building assignment—max TSP, pay off debt. ONE OF THE HIGHEST SAVINGS POSTS IN CONUS.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8am, 4:30-5:30pm (minimal—very small town)
• Best Routes: US-283, US-62, Falcon Road
• Worst: None—traffic is nonexistent year-round
• Pro Tip: 5-15 minute commute from Altus, zero traffic jams

Commissary & BX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (busier), paydays
• Off-Base Alternative: Walmart (Altus), limited options

Things You Should Know

• Airlift/tanker training mission: 97th Air Mobility Wing (C-17, KC-46, KC-135)—teach pilots and loadmasters
• Instructor lifestyle: Most personnel are flight instructors (teach students, stable assignment)
• MINIMAL deployments: Instructors stay CONUS, teach flying (non-deploying assignment)
• Students: Constant flow of student pilots and loadmasters (6-12 months training)
• VERY remote location: 2.5 hours from Oklahoma City, 2 hours from Lawton (major isolation)
• HOT summers: 95-105°F, low humidity
• Cold winters: 25-45°F, wind/ice storms (Oklahoma Great Plains)
• Altus: Very small town (20K people), limited nightlife/dating/amenities
• Tornado season: April-June (Oklahoma Tornado Alley)

Hidden Gems

• Quartz Mountain Nature Park (30 min) - Lake Altus-Lugert, hiking, fishing, camping
• Museum of the Western Prairie (Altus) - Local history, pioneer artifacts
• Great Plains State Park (45 min) - Lake Lugert, water sports, camping
• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (1 hour) - Bison, elk, longhorn cattle, hiking
• Lawton, OK (2 hours) - Fort Sill, larger town (95K people)
• Oklahoma City (2.5 hours) - Thunder NBA, museums, entertainment

Areas to Avoid

• Some parts of downtown Altus at night (limited crime but quiet)

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What's It Like to Live at Altus AFB?

Altus AFB is home to the 97th Air Mobility Wing—one of the three Air Mobility Command training bases in the Air Force. If you're here, you're either a flight instructor (teaching students to fly C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft, KC-46 Pegasus tankers, or KC-135 Stratotankers) or supporting operations. The mission is airlift and tanker training—churning out new mobility pilots and loadmasters. Instructors stay CONUS (MINIMAL deployments), teach daily sorties, stable assignment (3+ years). Students rotate through every 6-12 months. This is an instructor mission in Southwest Oklahoma—low cost of living, stable lifestyle, but VERY remote location.

Mission Reality:

• 97th Air Mobility Wing (C-17, KC-46, KC-135): Airlift and tanker training, instructor-focused
• MINIMAL deployments: Instructors stay CONUS, teach flying (stable, non-deploying assignment)
• Students: Constant flow of student pilots and loadmasters (6-12 months training cycles)
• Instructor lifestyle: Fly daily sorties, teach students, stable 3+ year assignments
• Support/Mx: Minimal deployment tempo

Quality of Life:

• LOW cost of living: Pocket $575-625/month from BAH, save $7,000-8,000/year (HIGHEST savings post)
• Schools: Altus Public Schools (6-7/10) are decent
• MINIMAL deployments: Instructors stay CONUS (major quality-of-life win)
• VERY remote: 2.5 hours from Oklahoma City (major isolation)
• Altus: Very small town (20K people, limited nightlife/dating/amenities)
• HOT summers: 95-105°F, low humidity
• Cold winters: 25-45°F, wind/ice storms (Oklahoma Great Plains harsh)
• Instructor camaraderie: Tight-knit mobility flying community, teaching culture

The Good:

• HIGHEST savings post (pocket $575-625/month, save $7,000-8,000/year)
• MINIMAL deployments (instructors stay CONUS, stable lifestyle)
• Instructor camaraderie (teaching culture, tight-knit mobility community)
• Low Oklahoma income tax (0-4.75%, save $1,500-2,000/year)
• SHORT on-base housing waitlist (2-4 months)
• Altus schools decent (6-7/10)
• Low traffic (5-15 min commute)
• Quartz Mountain Nature Park (30 min, beautiful)
• Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (1 hour, bison/elk)

The Not-So-Good:

• VERY remote location (2.5 hours from Oklahoma City, major isolation)
• Altus is very small (20K people, limited nightlife/dating/amenities)
• HOT summers (95-105°F, low humidity tolerable)
• Cold winters (25-45°F, wind/ice storms, Oklahoma Great Plains harsh)
• Schools are 6-7/10 (decent but not great)
• Limited entertainment (very small town)
• Tornado season (April-June, Oklahoma Tornado Alley)
• Nearest Walmart is the "big city" shopping

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -18% lower — Southwest Oklahoma affordability
Housing: -26% lower — BAH covers rent with huge buffer
Groceries: -12% lower — Commissary saves 20-30%
Utilities: +10% higher — HOT summers + cold winters

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in South Altus): $925
• Utilities (electric + gas): $165 (peak: $215-245)
• Groceries: $720
• Gas (commute + errands): $142
• Internet/Cable: $80
• Childcare (part-time): $275
• Car Insurance: $102 (OK is moderate)
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $110

Total: ~$2,519/month (peak: ~$2,594 with higher utilities)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $906-981)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,550) covers Altus rent ($925-975) with $575-625 left over. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted).

Savings Potential: HIGHEST IN CONUS—pocket $575-625/month in good neighborhoods. Low cost of living + generous BAH + LOW Oklahoma income tax (0-4.75%) = save $7,000-8,000/year. Budget extra $600-800/year for summer/winter utility spikes. This is THE wealth-building assignment—max TSP, pay off debt, build emergency fund. ONE OF THE BEST SAVINGS POSTS IN THE ENTIRE AIR FORCE.

Pro Tips:

• North Altus or South Altus = sweet spot (pocket $575-625/month, 6-7/10 schools)
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (Walmart limited)
• Oklahoma has LOW income tax (0-4.75%, save $1,500-2,000/year)
• LOW cost of living = save $7,000-8,000/year (max TSP contributions)
• Budget extra $600-800/year for summer/winter utility spikes
• Use this assignment to become debt-free and build wealth

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Altus (20K people) has a very small-town economy—Western Oklahoma State College, healthcare, retail, and military. Civilian jobs are LIMITED and lower-paying. Remote work is CRITICAL—most spouses work remotely.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Healthcare: Jackson County Memorial Hospital (RN $50K-62K, admin $24K-36K)
2. On-Base Contractors: Limited (admin, IT - $34K-48K)
3. Education: Altus Public Schools, Western Oklahoma State (teachers start $40K)
4. Western Oklahoma State College: Staff, admin ($24K-38K)
5. Retail: Walmart (manager $26K-36K)
6. Remote Work: BEST option ($42K-68K)

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $50,000-62,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $34,000-48,000
• Teaching (OK): $40,000-50,000
• College staff: $24,000-38,000
• Remote work (varies): $42,000-68,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Altus AFB has NAF jobs (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Airman & Family Readiness has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Altus job market VERY limited—remote work is essential

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 2-4 months (SHORT wait, instructor-stable community)
• Off-Base Daycare: $85-120/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $75-110/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $50-90/week

For Families:

• Schools: Altus Public Schools (6-7/10) are decent
• Activities: Quartz Mountain Nature Park (30 min), Museum of Western Prairie, Wichita Mountains (1 hour), Oklahoma City (2.5 hours)
• Support: Strong military community, instructor families (stable, non-deploying lifestyle creates tight bonds)

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Common Questions About Altus AFB

Q: Is Altus AFB a good duty station? A: YES, if you value MINIMAL deployments and HIGHEST savings potential. Instructors stay CONUS (stable lifestyle, teach flying), pocket $575-625/month from BAH, save $7,000-8,000/year (ONE OF THE HIGHEST in CONUS), Altus schools decent (6-7/10). Trade-offs: VERY remote (2.5 hours from Oklahoma City, major isolation), Altus is very small (20K people, limited nightlife/amenities), HOT summers (95-105°F), cold winters (25-45°F, wind/ice), schools are 6-7/10 (decent but not great). GREAT for instructors wanting stable assignment focused on aggressive wealth building.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base for max savings. North Altus or South Altus (6-7/10 schools) 5-10 min commute, pocket $575-625. On-base wait SHORT (2-4 months), quality 7-8/10, convenient. Both options solid—off-base gives max savings (extra $6,900-7,500/year).

Q: How bad are the deployments? A: MINIMAL for instructors. 97th Air Mobility Wing instructors stay CONUS—teach students to fly C-17, KC-46, KC-135 aircraft daily (non-deploying assignment). This is a MAJOR quality-of-life win. Stable 3+ year assignments, family-friendly lifestyle. Support/Mx also minimal deployments. This is one of the most stable assignments in the Air Force.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Challenging. Altus (20K people) has LIMITED jobs—healthcare (RN $50K-62K), on-base contractors ($34K-48K), teaching ($40K-50K), Western Oklahoma State staff ($24K-38K). Remote work is CRITICAL ($42K-68K). Job market is very small—remote work essential. Plan ahead.

Q: Is Altus boring? A: YES for most. Altus (20K people) is very small—limited nightlife/dating/amenities. Quartz Mountain Nature Park (30 min, beautiful), Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge (1 hour, bison/elk). Oklahoma City 2.5 hours (Thunder NBA, museums). Good for families focused on saving money, stable lifestyle, outdoor activities. NOT for entertainment seekers or singles. Walmart is the "big city" shopping.

Q: What about tornadoes? A: REAL. Oklahoma is Tornado Alley—tornado season April-June. Altus has tornado sirens, warning systems. Base has shelters. Know your tornado plan (basement, interior room, away from windows). Tornadoes are a fact of life in Oklahoma—prepare but don't panic. Most years no direct hits.

Q: Can I save money at Altus? A: YES. This is THE HIGHEST savings post in CONUS. Pocket $575-625/month from BAH, LOW cost of living, LOW Oklahoma income tax (0-4.75%) = save $7,000-8,000/year. Max your TSP (contribute 15-20%), pay off ALL debt, build 6-month emergency fund. This is THE assignment to become financially independent.

Q: What's the instructor lifestyle like? A: Fly daily sorties, teach student pilots and loadmasters, stable assignment (3+ years). Instructor pilots (IPs) teach C-17 (cargo), KC-46 (tanker), or KC-135 (tanker). Schedule can be demanding (daily flights, student briefs/debriefs) but MINIMAL deployments (stay CONUS). Tight-knit instructor community, mobility teaching culture. Good for pilots wanting stability, teaching experience, family time, and wealth building.

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Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

This guide gave you the local intel. Now use our premium tools to execute:

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Official Resources & References

This guide synthesizes data from official Department of Defense sources. For additional information:

• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) - Official military pay and allowances
• Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) - PCS entitlements and regulations
• MilitaryOneSource - Free 24/7 counseling and family support
• Defense Travel Management Office - Official BAH rates and per diem

Last verified: 2025-01-15. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.