Dyess AFB PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & West Texas Living

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Dyess AFB is home to the 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancers) and 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules) with 5,200 active duty personnel. This is a flying mission—bombers and airlift in West Texas. Low cost of living, decent schools, but remote location and hot/dry climate.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $400-500 buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,200/month (very affordable for Texas)
• School Quality: Wylie ISD (7-8/10) is best, Abilene ISD (6-7/10) is decent
• Remote: 3.5 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth (isolation factor)

What This Guide Covers: Housing with real prices, school ratings, Abilene West Texas intel, and bomber/airlift 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: Dyess Air Force Base
• Location: Abilene, TX (Taylor County) - 7 miles west of Abilene
• Size: 6,409 acres
• Population: 5,200 active duty + 13,000 total (civilians + dependents)
• Branch: Air Force (ACC - Air Combat Command, AMC - Air Mobility Command)
• Major Units: 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancer), 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules)
• Climate: Semi-arid West Texas—hot/dry summers (95-105°F), mild winters (40-60°F), low humidity
• Nearest Major City: Abilene, TX (adjacent), Fort Worth (3.5 hours east), Lubbock (2.5 hours northwest)

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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 good neighborhoods—Wylie ISD (7-8/10 schools, best) or Abilene ISD (6-7/10 schools). E5 BAH (~$1,650) covers median rent ($1,200) with $400-500 left over. This is a HIGH savings post—low cost of living + generous BAH = pocket $5,000-7,000/year.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

Wylie, TX (South of base, Wylie ISD):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,250/month
• Commute: 15-20 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Wylie ISD—best in area)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-friendly, newer development
• Best Areas: Near Wylie West Elementary/Junior High
• Why: Best schools, safe, pocket $400/month

Southwest Abilene (Abilene ISD, near Catclaw Creek):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,150/month
• Commute: 15-20 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Abilene ISD—decent)
• Vibe: Established neighborhoods, family-oriented
• Best Areas: Near Clack Middle School, Abilene High
• Why: Good balance of schools, commute, price, pocket $500/month

On-Base Housing (Privatized - Balfour Beatty Communities):

• Cost: Free (BAH auto-deducted)
• Wait Time: 3-6 months (moderate)
• Quality: 7-8/10 (renovated, decent)
• Schools: Bus to Abilene ISD (6-7/10)
• Why: Convenience, no commute, but sacrifice best schools (Wylie ISD 7-8/10)

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

North Abilene (near ACU campus):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,100/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Abilene ISD—mixed)
• Vibe: College town feel (Abilene Christian University nearby)
• Trade-off: Cheap rent but older homes, moderate schools

East Abilene:

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,000/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to gate
• Schools: 5-6/10 (Abilene ISD—weaker)
• Vibe: Older, industrial areas, mixed
• Why: Very cheap but lower school quality, higher crime pockets

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

Downtown Abilene:

• Older infrastructure, higher crime, schools 5/10
• Not worth the savings

Tye, TX (north):

• Too far (30+ min commute), limited amenities
• Only for extreme budget or rural lifestyle

Pro Tip: Wylie ISD (7-8/10 schools) is the gold standard—best schools in area, worth the 15-min commute, pocket $400. Southwest Abilene (6-7/10 schools, Abilene ISD) is the value play—pocket $500. On-base is convenient (7-8/10 quality) but sacrifice Wylie ISD. Avoid East Abilene (5-6/10 schools).

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Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Wylie West Elementary (Wylie) - 8/10 - Best elementary near base
• Craig Elementary (Abilene) - 7/10 - Solid option in Southwest Abilene
• Austin Elementary (Abilene) - 7/10 - Decent

Top Middle Schools

• Wylie Junior High (Wylie) - 8/10 - Best middle school near base
• Clack Middle School (Abilene, southwest) - 7/10 - Strong academics
• Madison Middle School (Abilene) - 6/10 - Average

Top High Schools

• Wylie High School (Wylie) - 8/10 - Best high school near base
• Abilene High School (Abilene) - 6/10 - Decent
• Cooper High School (Abilene) - 6/10 - Average

Private Schools

• Abilene Christian Schools (Abilene) - 7/10 - Christian private (K-12, $7K-11K/year)
• Christian Academy of Abilene (Abilene) - 6/10 - Small Christian school

Schools to Avoid

• East Abilene schools - 5-6/10 - Lower performance
• Downtown area schools - 5/10 - Struggling

School District Strategy: Wylie ISD (7-8/10) is the best near Dyess—worth the 15-min commute. Abilene ISD (6-7/10) is decent—Southwest Abilene has the stronger schools (Clack Middle, Abilene High). Avoid East Abilene (5-6/10). Private schools are limited—Abilene Christian Schools (7/10, $7K-11K/year) is best option.

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: -15% lower — West Texas affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with $400-500 buffer
Groceries: -10% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Utilities: -5% lower — Low humidity, moderate AC costs

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Southwest Abilene): $1,150
• Utilities (electric + water): $165 (summer: $220-250)
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $155
• Internet/Streaming: $85
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $320

Total: ~$2,625/month (summer: ~$2,720 with higher AC)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $780-875)

State Taxes

• Texas: NO state income tax (MAJOR savings)
• Sales Tax: 8.25% (state + local)
• Property Tax: High (but renters not directly impacted)

BAH Reality: E5 with dependents BAH (~$1,650) covers Southwest Abilene rent ($1,150) with $500 left over. Live in Wylie ($1,250, best schools 7-8/10) and pocket $400. On-base is free (BAH deducted automatically). No state income tax = save $2,000-3,000/year vs high-tax states.

Pro Tip: Southwest Abilene is the sweet spot—6-7/10 schools, pocket $500/month. Wylie has best schools (7-8/10) but only pocket $400. Low cost of living + no state income tax = save $5,000-7,000/year. Use this assignment to pay off debt or max TSP.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8am, 4:30-5:30pm (minimal—small city)
• Best Routes: Highway 277, FM 3438, Judge Ely Boulevard
• Worst: None—traffic is light year-round
• Pro Tip: 15-25 minute commute from suburbs, no real traffic jams

Commissary & BX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (busier), paydays
• Off-Base Alternative: Walmart, H-E-B, United Supermarkets (Abilene)

Things You Should Know

• Flying mission: 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancers), 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules)
• Bomber deployments: Moderate to high (B-1B crews deploy regularly to Middle East)
• C-130J deployments: Frequent (airlift missions worldwide)
• Remote location: 3.5 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth, 2.5 hours from Lubbock (isolation)
• Hot/dry summers: 95-105°F, low humidity (better than Houston humidity)
• Wind: Constant West Texas wind (dust storms occasional)
• Cowboys: Abilene has minor league baseball (Abilene Aviators), rodeos

Hidden Gems

• Abilene Zoo (Abilene) - Small but nice zoo
• Frontier Texas! (Abilene) - Interactive history museum
• Buffalo Gap Historic Village (20 min) - Old West town, courthouse
• Abilene State Park (15 min) - Lake, camping, hiking
• Dyess Linear Air Park (on base) - Historic aircraft displays (B-1, B-52, B-36)
• Fort Phantom Hill (30 min) - 1850s fort ruins

Areas to Avoid

• East Abilene (higher crime, weaker schools)
• Downtown Abilene at night (some sketchy areas)

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What's It Like to Live at Dyess AFB?

Dyess AFB is home to the 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancer strategic bombers) and 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlift). If you're here, you're either flying/maintaining bombers, flying/maintaining C-130s, or supporting operations. The mission is combat-ready—B-1Bs deploy regularly to Middle East (moderate to high deployment tempo), and C-130Js fly worldwide airlift missions (frequent TDYs). This is a flying mission in West Texas—hot, dry, remote, but low cost of living.

Mission Reality:

• 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancer): Strategic bombers, moderate to high deployments (Middle East rotations, 4-6 months)
• 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules): Tactical airlift, frequent TDYs/deployments (worldwide missions)
• Support/Mx: Moderate deployment tempo
• Flying community: Strong camaraderie, tight-knit bomber/airlift culture

Quality of Life:

• Low cost of living: Pocket $500/month from BAH, save $5,000-7,000/year
• Schools: Wylie ISD (7-8/10) is good, Abilene ISD (6-7/10) is decent
• Remote: 3.5 hours from Dallas/Fort Worth (isolation factor)
• Hot/dry summers: 95-105°F, low humidity (tolerable vs Gulf Coast)
• No state income tax: Save $2,000-3,000/year (Texas)
• Small town: Abilene (120K people) feels quiet after living in big cities

The Good:

• Low cost of living (pocket $500/month from BAH)
• No Texas state income tax (save $2,000-3,000/year)
• Wylie ISD schools are decent (7-8/10)
• Strong flying community (bomber/airlift culture)
• Low traffic (15-25 min commute)
• Renovated on-base housing (7-8/10 quality)
• Friendly West Texas community

The Not-So-Good:

• Remote location (3.5 hours from Dallas, isolation)
• Moderate to high deployment tempo (B-1B crews, C-130J frequent TDYs)
• Hot/dry summers (95-105°F, constant wind, dust storms)
• Limited entertainment (Abilene is small town, 120K people)
• Abilene ISD schools are 6-7/10 (not great but not terrible)
• Sparse dating scene (small city)

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -15% lower — West Texas affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with big buffer
Groceries: -10% lower — Commissary saves 20-30%
Utilities: -5% lower — Low humidity, moderate AC

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Southwest Abilene): $1,150
• Utilities (electric + water): $165 (summer: $220-250)
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $155
• Internet/Cable: $85
• Childcare (part-time): $320
• Car Insurance: $105 (TX is moderate)
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $125

Total: ~$2,855/month (summer: ~$2,950 with higher AC)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $550-645)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,650) covers Southwest Abilene rent ($1,150) with $500 left over. Live in Wylie ($1,250, best schools 7-8/10) and pocket $400. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted).

Savings Potential: HIGH—pocket $500/month in good neighborhoods. No state income tax saves $2,000-3,000/year. Low cost of living + generous BAH = save $5,000-7,000/year. This is a savings assignment—max your TSP, pay off debt, build emergency fund.

Pro Tips:

• Southwest Abilene = sweet spot (pocket $500/month, 6-7/10 schools)
• Wylie = best schools (7-8/10) but only pocket $400/month
• No Texas state income tax = save $2,000-3,000/year
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (Walmart, H-E-B)
• Low cost of living = save $5,000-7,000/year (use for debt/TSP/emergency fund)

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Abilene metro (120K people) has a small-town economy—healthcare, education (3 universities), oil/gas, and military. Civilian jobs exist but lower-paying than major metros. Remote work is growing—many spouses work remotely.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Healthcare: Hendrick Health, Abilene Regional Medical Center (RN $56K-68K, admin $30K-42K)
2. On-Base Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman (admin, IT - $40K-55K)
3. Education: Abilene ISD, Wylie ISD, ACU (teachers start $40K)
4. Universities: Abilene Christian University, Hardin-Simmons, McMurry (staff $28K-45K)
5. Oil/Gas: Admin roles (moderate market, $35K-50K)
6. Remote Work: Growing market ($45K-70K)

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $56,000-68,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $40,000-55,000
• Teaching (TX): $40,000-52,000
• University staff: $28,000-45,000
• Remote work (varies): $45,000-70,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Dyess AFB has NAF jobs (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Airman & Family Readiness has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Abilene job market small—remote work is best bet

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 4-8 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $105-145/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $95-135/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $70-110/week

For Families:

• Schools: Wylie ISD (7-8/10) or Southwest Abilene ISD (6-7/10) - both decent
• Activities: Abilene Zoo, parks, minor league baseball (Aviators), rodeos
• Support: Strong military community, family-friendly culture

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Common Questions About Dyess AFB

Q: Is Dyess AFB a good duty station? A: YES, if you value low cost of living and saving money. Pocket $500/month from BAH, no state income tax (save $2,000-3,000/year), Wylie schools are decent (7-8/10), strong flying community. Trade-offs: remote (3.5 hours from Dallas, isolation), moderate to high deployments (B-1B/C-130J crews), hot/dry summers (95-105°F), small town feel (Abilene 120K people). Good for families focused on saving.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base is better for most. Wylie ISD (7-8/10) is best schools, 15-min commute, pocket $400/month. Southwest Abilene (6-7/10 schools) pocket $500. On-base waitlist 3-6 months, quality 7-8/10, but kids bus to Abilene ISD (6-7/10). On-base is convenient but sacrifice best schools (Wylie).

Q: How bad are the deployments? A: Moderate to high for B-1B crews (4-6 month rotations to Middle East), frequent TDYs for C-130J crews (worldwide missions). Support/Mx moderate tempo. If you're flying or maintaining aircraft, expect regular deployments. Not as bad as fighter wings but not a non-deploying assignment either.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Yes, but limited. Abilene (120K people) has healthcare (RN $56K-68K), on-base contractors ($40K-55K), teaching ($40K-52K), and universities ($28K-45K). Remote work is best bet ($45K-70K). Job market is small-town—lower pay than major metros. Plan for remote work or on-base NAF jobs.

Q: Is Abilene boring? A: Depends. Small town (120K people) feels quiet after living in big cities. Abilene Zoo, minor league baseball (Aviators), rodeos, 3 universities. Dallas/Fort Worth 3.5 hours (isolation). Good for families focused on saving money, not for nightlife/entertainment seekers. You'll drive to Dallas for big-city experiences.

Q: How hot does it get? A: Hot/dry summers: 95-105°F, low humidity. Better than Houston/San Antonio humidity but still hot. Constant West Texas wind (dust storms occasional). Mild winters (40-60°F). AC runs summer but electric bills moderate ($220-250/month peak).

Q: Can I save money at Dyess? A: YES. This is a HIGH savings post. Pocket $500/month from BAH, no state income tax (save $2,000-3,000/year), low cost of living = save $5,000-7,000/year. Max your TSP, pay off debt, build emergency fund. Use this assignment to get financially ahead.

Q: What's the bomber community like? A: Tight-knit. 7th Bomb Wing (B-1B Lancer) has strong camaraderie—bomber culture is unique (strategic missions, crew coordination). 317th Airlift Wing (C-130J) has airlift culture (worldwide missions, tactical ops). Strong flying community overall, family-friendly base.

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Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

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

1. Interactive Data (Live Updates)

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4. Ask the Expert

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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.