McConnell AFB PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Wichita Living

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

McConnell AFB is home to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing (KC-135 & KC-46 tankers) with 3,700 active duty personnel. This is an air refueling mission—aerial tankers supporting global operations. Low cost of living, good schools, Wichita city amenities, but moderate deployment tempo.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $450-500 buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,200/month (very affordable for Kansas)
• School Quality: Derby USD 260 (7-8/10) is excellent, Maize USD 266 (7-8/10) also strong
• Wichita: Kansas's largest city (400K metro), aircraft manufacturing hub, decent amenities

What This Guide Covers: Housing with real prices, school ratings, Wichita Kansas intel, and KC-135/KC-46 aerial refueling 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: McConnell Air Force Base
• Location: Wichita, KS (Sedgwick County) - within Wichita city limits, southeast side
• Size: 3,200 acres
• Population: 3,700 active duty + 9,500 total (civilians + dependents)
• Branch: Air Force (AMC - Air Mobility Command)
• Major Units: 22nd Air Refueling Wing (KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus), 931st Air Refueling Wing (KC-46, Reserve)
• Climate: Continental Great Plains—hot summers (90-100°F), cold winters (20-40°F, wind/ice)
• Nearest Major City: Wichita, KS (within city, 400K metro), Kansas City, MO (3 hours northeast), Tulsa, OK (2.5 hours 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 good neighborhoods—Derby USD (7-8/10, best schools) or Maize USD (7-8/10, also excellent). E5 BAH (~$1,650) covers median rent ($1,200) with $450 left over. This is a HIGH savings post—low cost of living + generous BAH + no state income tax = save $6,000-8,000/year.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

Derby, KS (Southeast of base, Derby USD 260):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,250/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Derby USD 260—best schools in area)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-friendly, growing rapidly
• Best Areas: Near Derby High School, Rock Creek Elementary
• Why: Best schools, safe, pocket $400/month

Maize, KS (Northwest Wichita, Maize USD 266):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,250/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Maize USD 266—excellent)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-oriented, newer development
• Why: Excellent schools, safe, pocket $400/month

Haysville, KS (South of base, Wichita USD 259):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,150/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Wichita USD 259—mixed, some strong schools)
• Vibe: Small city (11K people), established
• Best Areas: Near Haysville High School
• Why: Close commute, pocket $500/month, decent schools

On-Base Housing (Privatized - Hunt Military Communities):

• Cost: Free (BAH auto-deducted)
• Wait Time: 4-8 months (moderate)
• Quality: 7-8/10 (renovated, good)
• Schools: Bus to Derby USD or Wichita USD (6-8/10 depending on area)
• Why: Convenience, no commute

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

East Wichita (near base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,100/month
• Commute: 10-15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Wichita USD 259—mixed quality)
• Vibe: Urban, established neighborhoods
• Trade-off: Cheap rent but research schools carefully

Andover, KS (East of base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,300/month
• Commute: 15-20 minutes to gate
• Schools: 7/10 (Andover USD 385—good)
• Vibe: Suburban, family-friendly
• Trade-off: Good schools but slightly higher rent, less BAH buffer

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

Downtown Wichita:

• Higher crime, schools 5-6/10, older infrastructure
• Not worth the savings

North Wichita (some areas):

• Some higher crime pockets, schools 5-6/10
• Research carefully before committing

Pro Tip: Derby USD 260 (7-8/10 schools) is the gold standard—best schools near base, 10-15 min commute, pocket $400. Maize USD 266 (7-8/10 schools) is also excellent but 20-25 min commute (northwest Wichita). Haysville (6-7/10 schools, Wichita USD) pocket $500, shorter commute. AVOID downtown Wichita (5-6/10 schools). Derby or Maize are the winners.

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Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Cooper Elementary (Derby) - 8/10 - Best elementary near base
• Rock Creek Elementary (Derby) - 8/10 - Excellent
• Maize Elementary (Maize) - 8/10 - Strong academics

Top Middle Schools

• Derby Middle (Derby) - 8/10 - Best middle school near base
• Maize South Middle (Maize) - 7/10 - Solid

Top High Schools

• Derby High School (Derby) - 8/10 - Best high school near base
• Maize High School (Maize) - 8/10 - Excellent
• Maize South High School (Maize) - 7/10 - Strong

Private Schools

• Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School (Wichita) - 8/10 - Catholic (9-12, $9K-12K/year)
• Wichita Collegiate School (Wichita) - 9/10 - Independent (PK-12, $15K-20K/year, best but expensive)
• Trinity Academy (Wichita) - 7/10 - Classical Christian (K-12, $7K-10K/year)

Schools to Avoid

• Downtown Wichita schools - 5-6/10 - Struggling
• Some North Wichita schools - 5-6/10 - Lower performance

School District Strategy: Derby USD 260 (7-8/10) and Maize USD 266 (7-8/10) are EXCELLENT—Derby High and Maize High both 8/10 (best near base). Wichita USD 259 (mixed, 5-7/10) has some strong schools (research carefully). Private schools strong—Wichita Collegiate (9/10, $15K-20K/year) is best but expensive, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic (8/10, $9K-12K/year) is solid 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: -13% lower — Kansas affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with $400-500 buffer
Groceries: -9% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Utilities: +7% higher — Hot summers + cold winters

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Derby): $1,250
• Utilities (electric + gas): $175 (summer/winter peak: $230-260)
• Groceries: $760
• Gas (commute + errands): $155
• Internet/Streaming: $87
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $315

Total: ~$2,742/month (peak: ~$2,832 with higher utilities)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $668-758)

State Taxes

• Kansas: NO state income tax (MAJOR savings)
• Sales Tax: 8.5% (state + local, higher)
• Property Tax: High (but renters not directly impacted)

BAH Reality: E5 with dependents BAH (~$1,650) covers Derby rent ($1,250) with $400 left over. Live in Haysville ($1,150, closer) and pocket $500. Maize ($1,250, excellent schools) pocket $400. Budget $230-260/month for summer/winter utility spikes.

Pro Tip: Derby or Maize = sweet spot (pocket $400/month, 7-8/10 schools). Haysville pocket $500 (6-7/10 schools, closer). NO Kansas state income tax = save $2,500-3,500/year vs income-tax states. LOW cost of living + generous BAH = save $6,000-8,000/year. This is a wealth-building assignment—max TSP, pay off debt.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8am, 4:30-5:30pm (moderate)
• Best Routes: I-135, Kellogg Avenue (US-54), Rock Road
• Worst: Kellogg during rush hour (backed up)
• Pro Tip: 10-25 minute commute from suburbs, moderate traffic

Commissary & BX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (busier), paydays
• Off-Base Alternative: Walmart, Dillons, Target, Costco (Wichita has all major retailers)

Things You Should Know

• Tanker mission: 22nd Air Refueling Wing (KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus)—aerial refueling
• Moderate deployments: Tanker crews deploy regularly (worldwide missions, 4-6 months)
• 931st ARW: Reserve KC-46 wing (part-time reservists)
• Aircraft manufacturing: Wichita is "Air Capital of the World" (Boeing, Textron, Spirit AeroSystems)
• Wichita: Kansas's largest city (400K metro), decent amenities
• Hot summers: 90-100°F, dry heat
• Cold winters: 20-40°F, wind/ice storms (Great Plains)

Hidden Gems

• Keeper of the Plains (Wichita downtown) - Iconic 44-ft statue, Ring of Fire, riverwalk
• Old Town Wichita - Entertainment district, restaurants, bars, Intrust Bank Arena
• Botanica Wichita Gardens - Beautiful gardens
• Exploration Place - Science museum, hands-on exhibits
• Sedgwick County Zoo - One of best zoos in US (top 10), 3,000 animals
• Kansas Aviation Museum - Wichita's aircraft history
• Kansas Cosmosphere (Hutchinson, 1 hour) - Space museum, SR-71, Apollo 13

Areas to Avoid

• Downtown Wichita at night (some higher crime areas)
• North Wichita (some sketchy pockets)

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What's It Like to Live at McConnell AFB?

McConnell AFB is home to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing (KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-46 Pegasus)—aerial refueling tankers supporting global operations. If you're here, you're either flying/maintaining tankers or supporting operations. The mission is aerial refueling—tanker crews deploy regularly worldwide (moderate tempo, 4-6 month rotations). The 931st Air Refueling Wing (Reserve KC-46s) also operates from here. This is a tanker mission in Wichita, Kansas—Kansas's largest city (400K metro), aircraft manufacturing hub, low cost of living.

Mission Reality:

• 22nd Air Refueling Wing (KC-135, KC-46): Aerial refueling, moderate deployments (worldwide missions, 4-6 months)
• 931st ARW (KC-46, Reserve): Part-time reservists, some deployments
• Support/Mx: Moderate deployment tempo
• Tanker community: Tight-knit, strategic mission (enabling global reach)

Quality of Life:

• LOW cost of living: Pocket $400-500/month from BAH, save $6,000-8,000/year
• Schools: Derby USD (7-8/10) and Maize USD (7-8/10) are EXCELLENT
• NO Kansas state income tax: Save $2,500-3,500/year (major win)
• Wichita: Kansas's largest city (400K metro), aircraft manufacturing hub
• Moderate deployments: Tanker crews deploy regularly (4-6 months)
• Hot summers: 90-100°F, dry heat
• Cold winters: 20-40°F, wind/ice storms (Great Plains)

The Good:

• LOW cost of living (pocket $400-500/month, save $6,000-8,000/year)
• NO Kansas state income tax (save $2,500-3,500/year, major win)
• Derby/Maize schools EXCELLENT (7-8/10, among best in Kansas)
• Wichita has amenities (400K metro, Sedgwick County Zoo top 10 in US)
• Aircraft manufacturing hub (Boeing, Textron, Spirit AeroSystems—spouse jobs)
• Old Town entertainment district (bars, restaurants, Intrust Bank Arena)
• Low traffic (10-25 min commute)
• Kansas Cosmosphere (1 hour, world-class space museum)

The Not-So-Good:

• Moderate deployments (tanker crews, 4-6 months worldwide)
• Hot summers (90-100°F, dry heat)
• Cold winters (20-40°F, wind/ice storms, Great Plains harsh)
• Wichita downtown has some crime (avoid at night)
• Great Plains isolation (3 hours from Kansas City)
• Tornado season (April-June, Kansas Tornado Alley)

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -13% lower — Kansas affordability
Housing: -20% lower — BAH covers rent with huge buffer
Groceries: -9% lower — Commissary saves 20-30%
Utilities: +7% higher — Hot summers + cold winters

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Derby): $1,250
• Utilities (electric + gas): $175 (peak: $230-260)
• Groceries: $760
• Gas (commute + errands): $155
• Internet/Cable: $87
• Childcare (part-time): $315
• Car Insurance: $110 (KS is moderate)
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $130

Total: ~$2,982/month (peak: ~$3,072 with higher utilities)
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $428-518)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,650) covers Derby rent ($1,250) with $400 left over. Live in Haysville ($1,150, closer) and pocket $500. Maize ($1,250, excellent schools) pocket $400. On-base is free (BAH auto-deducted).

Savings Potential: HIGH—pocket $400-500/month in good neighborhoods. NO Kansas state income tax saves $2,500-3,500/year (major win). Low cost of living + generous BAH = save $6,000-8,000/year. Budget extra $600-800/year for summer/winter utility spikes. This is a wealth-building assignment—max TSP (19% or $23,500 annual limit), pay off debt, build emergency fund.

Pro Tips:

• Derby or Maize = sweet spot (pocket $400/month, 7-8/10 schools)
• Haysville = value play (pocket $500/month, 6-7/10 schools, closer)
• NO Kansas state income tax = save $2,500-3,500/year (major win)
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (Walmart, Dillons)
• LOW cost of living = save $6,000-8,000/year (max TSP contributions)

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Wichita metro (400K people) has a strong economy—aircraft manufacturing (Boeing, Textron, Spirit AeroSystems), healthcare, education, and military. Civilian jobs are plentiful in aviation/manufacturing and healthcare pays well. Remote work is growing—many spouses work remotely.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Aircraft Manufacturing: Boeing, Textron Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems (engineers, technicians, admin - $45K-75K)
2. Healthcare: Ascension Via Christi, Wesley Medical Center (RN $60K-74K, admin $34K-48K)
3. On-Base Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman (admin, IT - $44K-60K)
4. Education: Wichita USD, Derby USD, Maize USD (teachers start $42K)
5. Retail/Corporate: Walmart, Target, Dillons, Koch Industries (manager/admin $32K-50K)
6. Remote Work: Growing market ($48K-75K)

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Aircraft manufacturing (technician/admin): $45,000-75,000
• Healthcare (RN): $60,000-74,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $44,000-60,000
• Teaching (KS): $42,000-54,000
• Remote work (varies): $48,000-75,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• McConnell AFB has NAF jobs (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Airman & Family Readiness has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Wichita job market strong—aircraft manufacturing hiring, healthcare robust

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 4-8 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $100-135/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $90-125/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $65-100/week

For Families:

• Schools: Derby USD (7-8/10) and Maize USD (7-8/10) are EXCELLENT—among best in Kansas
• Activities: Sedgwick County Zoo (top 10 US), Exploration Place, Old Town entertainment, Keeper of the Plains
• Support: Strong military community, tanker family culture

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Common Questions About McConnell AFB

Q: Is McConnell AFB a good duty station? A: YES, especially if you value LOW cost of living, NO state income tax, and EXCELLENT schools. Pocket $400-500/month from BAH, save $6,000-8,000/year, NO Kansas income tax (save $2,500-3,500/year), Derby/Maize schools are 7-8/10 (best in Kansas), Wichita has amenities (400K metro, Sedgwick County Zoo top 10 US). Trade-offs: moderate deployments (tanker crews, 4-6 months), hot summers (90-100°F), cold winters (20-40°F, wind/ice), tornado season (April-June). GREAT for families focused on saving + education.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base is better for most. Derby (7-8/10 schools, best) 10-15 min commute, pocket $400. Maize (7-8/10 schools, excellent) 20-25 min, pocket $400. Haysville (6-7/10 schools, closer) 10-15 min, pocket $500. On-base waitlist 4-8 months, quality 7-8/10, convenient. All options are solid.

Q: How bad are the deployments? A: Moderate for tanker crews. 22nd Air Refueling Wing deploys regularly worldwide (aerial refueling missions, 4-6 month rotations). Support/Mx moderate tempo. If you're flying or maintaining tankers, expect regular deployments. Not as high-tempo as fighters but not non-deploying either.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: YES. Wichita (400K metro) has aircraft manufacturing (Boeing, Textron, Spirit AeroSystems - $45K-75K), healthcare (RN $60K-74K), on-base contractors ($44K-60K), teaching ($42K-54K). Remote work growing ($48K-75K). Job market is STRONG—aircraft manufacturing always hiring (Wichita is "Air Capital of the World").

Q: Are the schools really that good? A: YES. Derby USD 260 (7-8/10) and Maize USD 266 (7-8/10) are EXCELLENT—among the best in Kansas. Derby High and Maize High both 8/10. Wichita USD 259 is mixed (5-7/10, research carefully). This is a major quality-of-life win vs most bases. Private schools also strong—Wichita Collegiate (9/10, $15K-20K/year) is best but expensive.

Q: Is Wichita boring? A: Depends. Wichita (400K metro) has decent amenities for size—Sedgwick County Zoo (top 10 US), Old Town entertainment district (bars, restaurants), Exploration Place science museum, aircraft museums. NOT a major metro (like Dallas/Denver) but not small-town either. Good for families, limited nightlife. Kansas City 3 hours (weekend trips).

Q: What about tornadoes? A: REAL. Kansas is Tornado Alley—tornado season April-June. Wichita 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 Kansas—prepare but don't panic. Most years no direct hits.

Q: Can I save money at McConnell? A: YES. This is a HIGH savings post. Pocket $400-500/month from BAH, NO Kansas state income tax (save $2,500-3,500/year), LOW cost of living = save $6,000-8,000/year. Max your TSP (19% or $23,500 annual limit), pay off debt, build emergency fund. One of the BEST savings assignments in CONUS.

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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.