Little Rock AFB PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Local Intel

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Little Rock AFB is home to the 19th Airlift Wing (C-130J Super Hercules) with 6,000 active duty personnel. Located in Jacksonville, AR (suburban Little Rock), this is a strategic airlift hub with frequent deployments but strong community and affordable living.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Comfortable fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $300-400 buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,200/month (affordable for region)
• School Quality: Live in Cabot (8-9/10) or Maumelle (7-8/10), avoid Jacksonville (5-6/10)

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, Little Rock metro intel, and C-130J 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: Little Rock Air Force Base
• Location: Jacksonville, AR (Pulaski County) - 17 miles northeast of Little Rock
• Size: 6,130 acres
• Population: 6,000 active duty + 10,000 total (civilians + dependents)
• Branch: Air Force (AMC)
• Major Units: 19th Airlift Wing (C-130J), 314th Airlift Wing (C-130J), 189th Airlift Wing (ANG - C-130H)
• Climate: Humid subtropical—hot summers (90-100°F), mild winters (35-50°F), humid year-round
• Nearest Major City: Little Rock, AR (17 miles southwest)

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BAH Rates

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

Key Insight: BAH comfortably covers rent in Cabot (best schools, 8-9/10) or Maumelle (7-8/10 schools) with $200-400 left over. Jacksonville (adjacent to base) is cheapest but schools are weaker (5-6/10). Most families prioritize Cabot for schools despite 20-min commute.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

Cabot, AR (Northwest of base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,300/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to main gate
• Schools: 8-9/10 (Cabot Public Schools—best in area)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-oriented, fastest-growing town in AR
• Best Areas: Near Cabot High School, Northside subdivisions
• Why: Best schools in metro, safe, worth the 20-min commute, pocket $200-300/month

Maumelle, AR (West of Little Rock):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,250/month
• Commute: 25-30 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Pulaski County Special School District—solid)
• Vibe: Master-planned community, suburban, golf courses, parks
• Why: Good schools, planned community feel, near Little Rock amenities

Sherwood, AR (South of base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,200/month
• Commute: 15-20 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7/10 (Sherwood Public Schools—decent)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-friendly, established neighborhoods
• Why: Good balance of schools, commute, and price

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

Jacksonville, AR (Adjacent to base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,050/month
• Commute: 5-10 minutes to gate
• Schools: 5-6/10 (Jacksonville/North Pulaski schools—weak)
• Vibe: Military town, transient, mixed areas
• Safe Pockets: North Jacksonville, near Marshall Road
• Trade-off: Short commute + cheap rent but poor schools

North Little Rock (Southwest):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,150/month
• Commute: 25-30 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (varies by neighborhood)
• Vibe: Urban/suburban mix, diverse
• Why: Near Little Rock amenities, but mixed school quality

On-Base Housing (Privatized - Corvias):

• Cost: Free (BAH auto-deducted)
• Wait Time: 4-8 months
• Quality: 6/10 (mixed reviews, maintenance issues reported)
• Schools: Bus to Jacksonville schools (5-6/10)
• Why: Convenience, but sacrifice schools and pocket money

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

Downtown Little Rock:

• Higher crime, poor schools (4-6/10), long commute (30-35 min)
• Not worth the $150-200/month savings

East Jacksonville/Gravel Ridge:

• Higher crime, poor schools (4-5/10)
• Skip it

Pro Tip: Cabot is the gold standard—8-9/10 schools, safe, worth the 20-min commute. Live here if schools are #1 priority (pocket $200-300/month). Sherwood is the value play—7/10 schools, 15-min commute, pocket $300-400/month. Avoid Jacksonville unless you're childless or kids are in private school.

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Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Cabot Elementary Schools (Cabot) - 8-9/10 - Best in area (multiple campuses)
• Ward Central Elementary (Cabot) - 8/10 - Excellent
• Maumelle Elementary (Maumelle) - 7/10 - Solid option

Top Middle Schools

• Cabot Middle School North (Cabot) - 8/10 - Strong academics
• Cabot Middle School South (Cabot) - 8/10 - Excellent
• Maumelle Middle (Maumelle) - 7/10 - Decent

Top High Schools

• Cabot High School (Cabot) - 9/10 - Best high school near base
• Maumelle High School (Maumelle) - 7/10 - Solid option
• Sherwood High School (Sherwood) - 7/10 - Decent

Schools to Avoid

• Jacksonville High School (Jacksonville) - 5/10 - Weak academics
• North Pulaski High School (Jacksonville) - 5/10 - Struggling
• Little Rock Public Schools (most) - 4-6/10 - Poor overall

School District Strategy: Cabot Public Schools (8-9/10) are the best in the area—worth the 20-min commute. Sherwood (7/10) is solid and closer (15-min). Maumelle (7-8/10) is good but farther (25-30 min). Jacksonville schools (5-6/10) are weak—avoid unless childless. Prioritize Cabot or Sherwood for families with kids.

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: -8% lower — Southern affordability
Housing: -10% lower — BAH covers rent with $200-400 buffer
Groceries: -6% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Gas: -5% lower — Cheaper than coasts

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Sherwood): $1,200
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $180
• Groceries: $760
• Gas (commute + errands): $150
• Internet/Streaming: $90
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $350

Total: ~$2,730/month (E5 BAH + BAS covers housing + groceries, pocket $400/month)

State Taxes

• Arkansas: 2.0%-4.7% state income tax (graduated)
• No local taxes: Little Rock area 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 (~$1,600) covers Sherwood rent ($1,200) with $400 left over. Live in Cabot ($1,300) and pocket $300 (best schools). Live in Jacksonville ($1,050) and pocket $550 (but sacrifice schools). This is a money-saving post.

Pro Tip: Sherwood is the sweet spot—7/10 schools, 15-min commute, pocket $400/month. Cabot ($1,300) is worth it if schools are #1 priority (8-9/10, pocket $300). Avoid Jacksonville unless you want to maximize BAH buffer ($550/month) and don't care about schools (5-6/10).

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8:30am, 4:30-6pm (moderate, not terrible)
• Best Routes: Highway 67/167 (north-south), I-40 (east-west)
• Worst: I-40 west into Little Rock (backs up afternoons)
• Pro Tip: Live in Sherwood or Cabot and reverse commute (against traffic)

Commissary & BX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (packed), paydays
• Off-Base Alternative: Walmart, Kroger, Target (all nearby)

Things You Should Know

• C-130J mission: Tactical airlift—frequent deployments (4-6 months every 12-18 months)
• 314th Airlift Wing: Training mission—less deployment tempo
• Arkansas Guard: 189th Airlift Wing (C-130H)—weekend warriors, some deployments
• Tornado season: Spring (March-May)—sirens common, have shelter plan
• Hot/humid summers: 90-100°F + 80% humidity (June-August)
• Little Rock: State capital (200K metro)—good food scene, River Market, museums

Hidden Gems

• Pinnacle Mountain State Park (20 min) - Hiking, rock climbing, summit views
• River Market District (Little Rock, 25 min) - Farmers market, restaurants, nightlife
• War Memorial Stadium (Little Rock) - Arkansas Razorbacks football
• Buffalo National River (2 hours) - Canoeing, camping, pristine river
• Hot Springs (1 hour) - Historic spa town, bathhouses, Garland County
• Crystal Bridges Museum (Bentonville, 3 hours) - World-class art museum

Areas to Avoid

• Downtown Little Rock (high crime at night)
• East Jacksonville/Gravel Ridge (high crime)
• Southwest Little Rock (avoid)

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What's It Like to Live at Little Rock AFB?

Little Rock AFB is home to the 19th Airlift Wing and 314th Airlift Wing, flying the C-130J Super Hercules for tactical airlift missions worldwide. If you're here, you're either flying C-130s, maintaining them, or supporting the mission. The ops tempo is high—19th AW deploys frequently (4-6 months every 12-18 months to Middle East, Africa, Europe). The 314th AW is the training wing (lower deployment tempo). Arkansas Air National Guard (189th AW) also operates from here.

Mission Reality:

• 19th Airlift Wing (C-130J pilots/crews): High deployment tempo—4-6 months every 12-18 months (Middle East, Africa, Europe)
• 314th Airlift Wing (training): Moderate tempo—occasional TDYs, fewer deployments
• 189th Airlift Wing (ANG): Weekend warriors—some deployments but mostly CONUS
• Maintenance/Support: Busy ops tempo, moderate deployments

Quality of Life:

• Affordable: BAH covers rent with $200-400 buffer, low cost of living
• School Divide: Cabot (8-9/10) vs Sherwood (7/10) vs Jacksonville (5-6/10)
• Location: Little Rock is a nice mid-size city (200K metro)—state capital, good food, River Market
• Weather: Hot/humid summers (90-100°F + 80% humidity), tornadoes spring

The Good:

• Low cost of living (pocket $200-400/month from BAH)
• Cabot/Sherwood schools are good (7-9/10)
• Little Rock is a growing city (200K metro, good food scene)
• Outdoor activities (Pinnacle Mountain, Buffalo River, Hot Springs)
• C-130 mission is exciting (tactical airlift, diverse deployments)

The Not-So-Good:

• High deployment tempo (19th AW crews gone 4-6 months frequently)
• Jacksonville schools are weak (5-6/10)
• Hot/humid summers are brutal (90-100°F + 80% humidity)
• Tornado season is real (spring, sirens go off regularly)
• On-base housing quality is 6/10 (maintenance issues reported)

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -8% lower — Southern affordability
Housing: -10% lower — BAH covers rent with buffer
Groceries: -6% lower — Commissary saves 20-30%
Transportation: -5% lower — Gas cheap, car insurance low

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Sherwood): $1,200
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $180
• Groceries: $760
• Gas (commute + errands): $150
• Internet/Cable: $90
• Childcare (part-time): $350
• Car Insurance: $120
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $160

Total: ~$3,010/month
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,400/month (covers housing + food, pocket $390)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,600) covers Sherwood rent ($1,200) with $400 left over. Live in Cabot ($1,300) and pocket $300 (best schools). Live in Jacksonville ($1,050) and pocket $550 (sacrifice schools).

Savings Potential: Moderate—pocket $200-400/month depending on neighborhood choice. Low cost of living + affordable housing = financial win. Use the buffer to pay off debt, save for next PCS, or invest.

Pro Tips:

• Sherwood = best value (7/10 schools, pocket $400/month)
• Cabot = best schools (8-9/10) but only pocket $300/month
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (use it)
• Arkansas has lower taxes than coasts (pocket extra $1,000-1,500/year)

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Little Rock metro (200K people) has a decent economy—healthcare (UAMS, Baptist Health), government (state capital), retail, and logistics. Civilian jobs are more plentiful than typical small military towns. Remote work is also strong—many spouses work remotely for Little Rock companies or out-of-state.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. On-Base Contractors: L3Harris, AECOM, KBR (admin, IT - $45K-65K)
2. Healthcare: UAMS (University of AR Medical Sciences), Baptist Health (RN $60K-75K, admin $35K-50K)
3. Government: Arkansas state agencies (admin, clerks - $35K-50K)
4. Retail: Walmart HQ (Bentonville, 3 hours—some remote roles), Target, Best Buy ($30K-45K)
5. Education: Cabot/Sherwood schools (teachers start $40K)
6. Remote Work: Growing Little Rock remote market ($50K-75K)

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $60,000-75,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $45,000-65,000
• Teaching (AR): $40,000-52,000
• Government (state): $35,000-50,000
• Remote work (varies): $50,000-75,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Little Rock AFB has NAF workforce (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Airman & Family Readiness has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Little Rock job market is decent (healthcare, government, retail)

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 6-10 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $130-180/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $110-160/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $80-130/week

For Families:

• Schools: Cabot (8-9/10) or Sherwood (7/10) - prioritize this
• Activities: Pinnacle Mountain, River Market, Buffalo River, Hot Springs
• Support: Strong spouse community (large base, established families)

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Common Questions About Little Rock AFB

Q: Is Little Rock AFB a good duty station? A: Yes, especially if you prioritize affordable living and decent schools. Cabot schools are excellent (8-9/10), housing is affordable (pocket $200-400/month), and Little Rock is a nice mid-size city. High deployment tempo (19th AW gone 4-6 months frequently) is the trade-off. Hot/humid summers are tough (90-100°F + 80% humidity).

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base is better for most. On-base housing quality is 6/10 (maintenance issues), waitlists are 4-8 months, and kids bus to Jacksonville schools (5-6/10). Live in Sherwood ($1,200, 7/10 schools) and pocket $400/month. Cabot ($1,300, 8-9/10 schools) is worth it for best schools, pocket $300/month.

Q: What's the difference between Cabot and Sherwood? A: Cabot has the best schools in the area (8-9/10) but is 20-min commute and costs $1,300 rent. Sherwood has good schools (7/10), shorter commute (15 min), and cheaper rent ($1,200). Most families pick Sherwood for balance. Choose Cabot if schools are absolute #1 priority.

Q: Can I avoid Jacksonville schools? A: Yes. Live in Cabot (8-9/10), Sherwood (7/10), or Maumelle (7-8/10). Jacksonville schools (5-6/10) are weak—only live there if you're childless, kids are in private school, or you want to maximize BAH buffer ($550/month).

Q: How bad are deployments at Little Rock? A: High tempo for 19th Airlift Wing (C-130J pilots/crews)—expect 4-6 month deployments every 12-18 months to Middle East, Africa, Europe. 314th Airlift Wing (training) has lower tempo (occasional TDYs, fewer deployments). Maintenance/support have moderate tempo. This is not a "stay home" base.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Yes. Little Rock metro (200K people) has decent job market—healthcare (UAMS, Baptist Health), government (state capital), retail. On-base contractors pay $45K-65K (L3Harris, AECOM). Healthcare RNs make $60K-75K. Teaching pays $40K-52K. Remote work is growing ($50K-75K). Better than small military towns.

Q: What's the C-130J mission like? A: Tactical airlift—fly C-130J Super Hercules for cargo/personnel transport, airdrop, special ops support. High ops tempo. 19th AW deploys to Middle East, Africa, Europe (4-6 months). 314th AW trains new C-130 crews (lower deployment tempo). Exciting mission, but be ready to deploy.

Q: What's there to do in Little Rock? A: Little Rock is a growing mid-size city (200K metro)—state capital, River Market District (restaurants, bars, farmers market), Pinnacle Mountain (hiking), museums. Weekend trips: Hot Springs (1 hour), Buffalo National River (2 hours), Memphis (2 hours), Bentonville/Crystal Bridges (3 hours). Good outdoor activities, decent food scene.

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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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• Real-time housing prices
• Current school ratings
• Weather patterns
• Neighborhood rankings

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3. Paycheck Audit

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4. Ask the Expert

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• Little Rock AFB-specific questions
• Spouse employment intel
• School district comparisons

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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.