F.E. Warren AFB PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Cheyenne Living

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

F.E. Warren AFB is home to the 90th Missile Wing (Minuteman III ICBMs) with 3,500 active duty personnel. This is a NUCLEAR MISSILE mission—maintaining and operating intercontinental ballistic missiles in Wyoming. Low cost of living, decent schools, but HARSH winters.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $850+ buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $975/month (affordable for Wyoming)
• School Quality: Laramie County School District 1 (6-7/10) is decent
• MINIMAL deployments: Missileers stay CONUS (nuclear deterrence mission, stable lifestyle)

What This Guide Covers: Housing with real prices, school ratings, Cheyenne Wyoming intel, and nuclear missile 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: Francis E. Warren Air Force Base
• Location: Cheyenne, WY (Laramie County) - within city limits, southeastern Wyoming
• Size: 5,866 acres (plus 9,600 square miles of missile field)
• Population: 3,500 active duty + 7,500 total (civilians + families)
• Branch: Air Force (AFGSC - Air Force Global Strike Command)
• Major Units: 90th Missile Wing (Minuteman III ICBMs - 150 missiles across WY/CO/NE)
• Climate: High plains Wyoming—warm summers (75-90°F), HARSH winters (-5°F to 35°F, November-March)
• Nearest Major City: Cheyenne, WY (adjacent, 65K people), Denver, CO (1.5 hours south), Fort Collins, CO (1 hour south)

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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—Laramie County School District 1 (6-7/10) is decent. E5 BAH (~$1,825) covers median rent ($975) with $850 left over. This is a HIGHEST savings post—low cost of living + generous BAH + NO Wyoming state income tax = save $10,000-11,000/year. MINIMAL deployments + HARSH winters are the trade-offs.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

South Cheyenne (Near South High School):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,000/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7/10 (Laramie County SD1—best schools)
• Vibe: Small city (65K people), newer development
• Best Areas: Near South High School, Saddle Ridge Elementary
• Why: Best schools, pocket $825/month

West Cheyenne:

• Median 3BR Rent: $950/month
• Commute: 5-10 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Laramie County SD1)
• Vibe: Close to base, established neighborhoods
• Why: Pocket $875/month, very close

On-Base Housing (Privatized - Balfour Beatty):

• Cost: Free (BAH auto-deducted)
• Wait Time: 3-6 months (moderate)
• Quality: 7-8/10 (renovated, good)
• Schools: Bus to Laramie County SD1 (6-7/10)
• Why: Convenience, eliminates winter driving, stable lifestyle

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

Downtown Cheyenne:

• Median 3BR Rent: $900/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Laramie County SD1—older schools)
• Vibe: Downtown, older infrastructure
• Trade-off: Cheapest ($925 buffer) but older areas

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

East Cheyenne:

• Some older areas, limited housing options

Pro Tip: South Cheyenne (7/10 schools, newer) is the gold standard—best schools in area, 10-15 min commute, pocket $825. West Cheyenne (6-7/10 schools) pocket $875, very close to base. On-base waitlist 3-6 months, quality 7-8/10, eliminates winter driving (MAJOR benefit in Wyoming winters). This is a HIGHEST savings post with MINIMAL deployments.

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Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Saddle Ridge Elementary (Cheyenne) - 7/10 - Best elementary near base
• Anderson Elementary (Cheyenne) - 7/10 - Strong
• Freedom Elementary (Cheyenne) - 6/10 - Decent

Top Middle Schools

• McCormick Junior High (Cheyenne) - 7/10 - Best middle school near base
• South High School (Cheyenne) - 7/10 - Also serves middle grades

Top High Schools

• South High School (Cheyenne) - 7/10 - Best high school near base
• Central High School (Cheyenne) - 6/10 - Decent
• East High School (Cheyenne) - 6/10 - Average

Private Schools

• St. Mary's Catholic School (Cheyenne) - 6/10 - Catholic (PK-12, $5K-8K/year)
• Cheyenne Academy (Cheyenne) - 6/10 - Alternative

Schools to Avoid

• Downtown Cheyenne schools - 5-6/10 - Older, struggling

School District Strategy: Laramie County School District 1 (6-7/10) is decent—Saddle Ridge/Anderson Elementary, McCormick Junior High, South High (all 7/10) are best. Private schools limited—St. Mary's Catholic (6/10, $5K-8K/year) is main option. Schools are solid but not exceptional.

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: -16% lower — Wyoming affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with $850+ buffer
Groceries: -8% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Utilities: +10% higher — HARSH winters, heating costs high

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in West Cheyenne): $950
• Utilities (electric + gas heating): $180 (winter: $265-315)
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $150
• Internet/Streaming: $84
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $285

Total: ~$2,399/month (winter: ~$2,534 with higher heating)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $966-1,101)

State Taxes

• Wyoming: NO state income tax (MAJOR savings)
• Sales Tax: 6% (state + local, LOW)
• Property Tax: Low (but renters not directly impacted)
• Military Benefit: No state income tax = extra $3,500-4,500/year

BAH Reality: E5 with dependents BAH (~$1,825) covers Cheyenne rent ($950-1,000) with $825-875 left over. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted). Budget $265-315/month for winter heating (HARSH Wyoming winters November-March).

Pro Tip: South Cheyenne or West Cheyenne = sweet spot (pocket $825-875/month, 6-7/10 schools). NO Wyoming state income tax = save $3,500-4,500/year (major win). LOW cost of living + generous BAH = save $10,000-11,000/year. Budget extra $1,200-1,500/year for winter heating spike. MINIMAL deployments = stable lifestyle. This is a wealth-building assignment—max TSP, pay off debt.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8am, 4:30-5:30pm (minimal—small city)
• Best Routes: I-25, US-85, Randall Avenue
• Worst: Winter conditions (ice, snow, -20°F windchill, WIND)
• Pro Tip: 5-15 minute commute from Cheyenne, minimal traffic but HARSH winters

Commissary & BX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (busier), paydays
• Off-Base Alternative: Walmart, King Soopers, Sam's Club (Cheyenne)

Things You Should Know

• Nuclear missile mission: 90th Missile Wing (Minuteman III ICBMs - 150 missiles across WY/CO/NE)
• Missile field: 9,600 square miles (missiles in underground silos)
• Missileers: Officers who operate missiles from underground launch control centers (24-hour shifts)
• MINIMAL deployments: Missileers stay CONUS (nuclear deterrence mission, stable lifestyle)
• Alert duty: Missileers pull 24-hour alerts in missile field (isolated, underground)
• Support/Mx: Minimal deployment tempo
• HARSH winters: -5°F to 35°F (November-March), windchill -30°F to -50°F, extreme cold/wind/snow/WIND
• WIND: Wyoming is WINDY year-round (30-50+ mph gusts common)
• Short summers: 75-90°F (June-August), pleasant
• Cheyenne: Small city (65K people), state capital, limited nightlife
• Denver: 1.5 hours south (major metro, airport, entertainment)
• Oldest continuously active base: Established 1867, cavalry post history

Hidden Gems

• Cheyenne Frontier Days (July) - "Daddy of 'em All" rodeo, largest outdoor rodeo, 10 days
• Wyoming State Museum (Cheyenne) - Free, excellent state history
• Historic Downtown Cheyenne - Capitol building, historic district, restaurants
• Curt Gowdy State Park (30 min) - Lakes, hiking, camping, fishing
• Medicine Bow National Forest (1 hour) - Hiking, camping, mountains
• Fort Collins, CO (1 hour) - Colorado State University, breweries, restaurants
• Denver, CO (1.5 hours) - Broncos, Rockies, entertainment, major metro
• Rocky Mountain National Park (2.5 hours) - World-class hiking, mountains

Areas to Avoid

• Some parts of downtown Cheyenne at night (limited crime)

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What's It Like to Live at F.E. Warren AFB?

F.E. Warren AFB is home to the 90th Missile Wing—one of three ICBM wings in the Air Force, operating 150 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles spread across 9,600 square miles of Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. If you're here, you're either a missileer (officer who operates missiles from underground launch control centers), a maintainer (keeping the missiles operational), or supporting the nuclear deterrence mission. The mission is NUCLEAR DETERRENCE—providing strategic nuclear capability for the United States. Deployment tempo is MINIMAL (missileers stay CONUS, pull 24-hour alerts in missile field). This is a STABLE mission in Wyoming—low cost of living, HIGHEST savings, MINIMAL deployments, but HARSH winters and WIND are the major trade-offs.

Mission Reality:

• 90th Missile Wing (Minuteman III ICBMs): 150 missiles across WY/CO/NE, nuclear deterrence
• MINIMAL deployments: Missileers stay CONUS (nuclear deterrence mission, stable lifestyle)
• Alert duty: Missileers pull 24-hour alerts in underground launch control centers (isolated, missile field)
• Support/Mx: Minimal deployment tempo
• Oldest base: Established 1867, cavalry post history

Quality of Life:

• LOW cost of living: Pocket $825-875/month from BAH, save $10,000-11,000/year (HIGHEST savings post)
• NO Wyoming state income tax: Save $3,500-4,500/year (major win)
• Schools: Laramie County SD1 (6-7/10) is decent
• MINIMAL deployments: Missileers stay CONUS (major quality-of-life win, stable lifestyle)
• HARSH winters: -5°F to 35°F (November-March), windchill -30°F to -50°F, extreme cold/wind/snow (MAJOR trade-off)
• WIND: Wyoming is WINDY year-round (30-50+ mph gusts common, relentless)
• Denver: 1.5 hours south (major metro, airport, entertainment)
• Cheyenne: Small city (65K people), state capital, limited nightlife
• Alert duty: 24-hour shifts underground (isolated, challenging lifestyle for missileers)

The Good:

• HIGHEST savings post (pocket $825-875/month, save $10,000-11,000/year)
• NO Wyoming state income tax (save $3,500-4,500/year, major win)
• MINIMAL deployments (missileers stay CONUS, major quality-of-life win, stable lifestyle)
• Cheyenne Frontier Days (July, largest outdoor rodeo, world-famous)
• Denver 1.5 hours (major metro, Broncos, Rockies, entertainment)
• Fort Collins 1 hour (Colorado State, breweries, restaurants)
• Rocky Mountain National Park 2.5 hours (world-class hiking)
• Laramie County SD1 schools decent (6-7/10)
• Short pleasant summers (75-90°F, June-August)

The Not-So-Good:

• HARSH winters are brutal (-5°F to 35°F, windchill -30°F to -50°F, November-March, MAJOR trade-off)
• WIND is relentless (30-50+ mph gusts year-round, Wyoming is WINDY, can drive you crazy)
• Alert duty challenging (24-hour shifts underground, isolated, missile field)
• Cheyenne is small (65K people, limited nightlife)
• Schools are 6-7/10 (decent but not great)
• Winter heating costs high ($265-315/month peak)
• Missile field duty remote (miles from civilization, isolated)

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -16% lower — Wyoming affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with huge buffer
Groceries: -8% lower — Commissary saves 20-30%
Utilities: +10% higher — HARSH winters, heating costs high

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in West Cheyenne): $950
• Utilities (electric + gas heating): $180 (winter: $265-315)
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $150
• Internet/Cable: $84
• Childcare (part-time): $285
• Car Insurance: $105 (WY is moderate)
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $118

Total: ~$2,622/month (winter: ~$2,757 with higher heating)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $743-878)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,825) covers Cheyenne rent ($950-1,000) with $825-875 left over. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted).

Savings Potential: HIGHEST IN CONUS—pocket $825-875/month in good neighborhoods. NO Wyoming state income tax saves $3,500-4,500/year (major win). Low cost of living + generous BAH = save $10,000-11,000/year. Budget extra $1,200-1,500/year for winter heating. MINIMAL deployments = stable income. This is THE wealth-building assignment—max TSP (contribute 20%+), pay off ALL debt, build 6-month emergency fund.

Pro Tips:

• South Cheyenne or West Cheyenne = sweet spot (pocket $825-875/month, 6-7/10 schools)
• NO Wyoming state income tax (save $3,500-4,500/year, major win)
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (Walmart, King Soopers)
• LOW cost of living = save $10,000-11,000/year (max TSP contributions)
• Budget extra $1,200-1,500/year for winter heating
• Use this assignment to become debt-free and build wealth
• Drive to Denver/Fort Collins for entertainment (free with savings)

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Cheyenne (65K people) has a small-city economy—F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming state government (capital), healthcare, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, retail. Civilian jobs exist but lower-paying. Remote work is growing—many spouses work remotely.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Wyoming State Government: Capitol, agencies (admin $32K-50K)
2. Healthcare: Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (RN $64K-80K, admin $32K-48K)
3. On-Base Contractors: Northrop Grumman, Boeing (admin, IT - $42K-62K)
4. Education: Laramie County School District 1 (teachers start $45K)
5. Laramie County Community College: Staff, admin ($28K-42K)
6. Retail: Walmart, Frontier Mall (manager $30K-42K)
7. Remote Work: Growing market ($45K-75K)

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Wyoming state gov: $32,000-50,000
• Healthcare (RN): $64,000-80,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $42,000-62,000
• Teaching (WY): $45,000-60,000
• College staff: $28,000-42,000
• Remote work (varies): $45,000-75,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• F.E. Warren AFB has NAF jobs (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Airman & Family Readiness has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Cheyenne job market moderate—remote work recommended

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 3-6 months (moderate wait)
• Off-Base Daycare: $90-130/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $80-120/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $60-100/week

For Families:

• Schools: Laramie County SD1 (6-7/10) is decent
• Activities: Cheyenne Frontier Days (July, rodeo), Wyoming State Museum, Curt Gowdy State Park (30 min), Denver (1.5 hours)
• Support: Strong military community, missile families (stable lifestyle due to MINIMAL deployments)

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Common Questions About F.E. Warren AFB

Q: Is F.E. Warren AFB a good duty station? A: YES, if you value savings + stability and can handle HARSH winters + WIND. Nuclear missile mission is strategic (stable), pocket $825-875/month from BAH, save $10,000-11,000/year (HIGHEST savings post), NO Wyoming income tax (save $3,500-4,500/year), MINIMAL deployments (missileers stay CONUS, major quality-of-life win), Denver 1.5 hours (major metro access). Trade-offs: HARSH winters (-5°F to 35°F, windchill -30°F to -50°F, November-March, MAJOR trade-off), WIND is relentless (30-50+ mph gusts year-round, can drive you crazy), alert duty challenging (24-hour shifts underground, isolated), Cheyenne is small (65K people, limited nightlife). GREAT for missileers prioritizing savings + stable lifestyle over weather.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base for max savings. South Cheyenne or West Cheyenne (6-7/10 schools) pocket $825-875, 5-15 min commute. On-base waitlist 3-6 months, quality 7-8/10, eliminates winter driving. Off-base gives max savings (extra $9,900-10,500/year).

Q: How bad are the deployments? A: MINIMAL. Missileers stay CONUS—operate missiles from underground launch control centers (24-hour alert duty). This is a MAJOR quality-of-life win. Stable 3-5 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: Yes, moderate market. Cheyenne (65K people) has Wyoming state gov ($32K-50K), healthcare (RN $64K-80K), on-base contractors ($42K-62K), teaching ($45K-60K), Laramie County Community College staff ($28K-42K). Remote work recommended ($45K-75K). Job market is small-city—remote work best bet.

Q: How bad are the winters? A: BRUTAL. Wyoming winters: -5°F to 35°F (November-March), windchill -30°F to -50°F, extreme cold/wind/snow. Block heaters for cars REQUIRED. Remote start ESSENTIAL. Winter gear (parka, boots, gloves) NON-NEGOTIABLE. Winters last 5-6 months. If you can't handle extreme cold, this is NOT your assignment.

Q: How bad is the WIND? A: RELENTLESS. Wyoming is WINDY year-round (30-50+ mph gusts common, sometimes 70+ mph). WIND is constant, can drive you crazy. Many say WIND is worse than cold. Plan for it, embrace it, or avoid Wyoming. WIND is a fact of life here.

Q: Can I save money at F.E. Warren? A: YES. This is THE HIGHEST savings post in CONUS. Pocket $825-875/month from BAH, NO Wyoming state income tax (save $3,500-4,500/year), LOW cost of living = save $10,000-11,000/year. Max your TSP (contribute 20%+), pay off ALL debt, build 6-month emergency fund. This is THE assignment to become financially independent. WINTER + WIND are the price for savings.

Q: What's alert duty like? A: Challenging. Missileers pull 24-hour alerts in underground launch control centers in missile field (isolated, miles from civilization). You and one other officer in cramped capsule underground for 24 hours. Shifts can be boring (waiting) or intense (maintenance, testing). It's unique lifestyle—not for everyone. But MINIMAL deployments compensate.

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Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

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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.