California
Beale Air Force Base
📍 Marysville, California
Home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, operating the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk for high-altitude intelligence gathering.
BAH Rates
MHA: CA038 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,007/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,430/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,836/mo
O-3 with Dependents$3,084/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,385/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Balfour Beatty Communities — single-family homes and townhomes; wait lists vary by rank, typically 1-6 months; homes built from 1950s-2010s with ongoing renovations
- Off-base (Marysville/Yuba City): Most families live off-base; rentals $1,200-$2,200/month; BAH provides decent coverage; Marysville is closer (10-15 min), Yuba City has more amenities (15-20 min)
- Off-base (Lincoln/Roseville): 30-45 min south, larger newer homes in booming Placer County suburbs, better schools, much higher home prices ($450K-$700K+)
- Top pick: East Linda/North Marysville near Edgewater — 10-15 min commute, newer construction, Lake of the Pines area for those wanting more space
- Note: Beale is 10 miles east of the twin cities — there is NO housing directly outside the gate; everyone commutes 10+ minutes minimum; California utility costs are high, budget $200-400/month for electric and gas
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- East Marysville — 10-15 min commute, closest residential area to base, mix of older and newer homes, convenient to Highway 20 corridor, short drive to the Yuba River
- Yuba City (north side) — 15-20 min commute, larger city with more amenities, good schools, diverse community with strong Punjabi-American cultural influence, excellent Indian and Mexican restaurants
- Plumas Lake — 15-20 min south on Highway 70, newer master-planned community, many Beale families, newer homes with modern floor plans, growing but limited commercial amenities
- Lincoln — 30-35 min south, booming Placer County suburb, newer homes, excellent schools, major retail growth, higher home prices and longer commute — trade time for quality of life
- Wheatland — 20-25 min southeast, small rural town, very affordable, peaceful setting, good option for those wanting acreage and a slower pace
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Plumas Lake Elementary⭐ 5/10
Plumas Lake, close to base housing
Cobblestone Elementary⭐ 6/10
Plumas Lake, newer school
Kynoch Elementary⭐ 4/10
Marysville, diverse
Edgewater Elementary⭐ 5/10
Marysville area
🏫 Middle Schools
Riverside Meadows Intermediate⭐ 4/10
Plumas Lake area, grades 6-8
Yuba Gardens Intermediate⭐ 4/10
Olivehurst, near base
Wheatland Union Middle⭐ 5/10
Wheatland, smaller school
🏫 High Schools
Lindhurst High School⭐ 4/10
Olivehurst, closest to base
Marysville High School⭐ 5/10
Marysville, diverse programs
Wheatland Union High⭐ 6/10
Wheatland, smaller, strong community
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (North Beale Road/Doolittle Drive) — Primary entry from Highway 20, 24/7 operations, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM), access to main base and flightline areas
- Wheatland Gate (South Beale Road) — South gate convenient for Plumas Lake, Wheatland, and Lincoln residents; shorter waits but limited hours (typically 0530-1900 weekdays)
- Tip: The Main Gate line backs up during morning PT hours — plan to arrive by 6:15 AM to avoid the worst of it; South Gate is the fast alternative
- Note: Beale is a large, spread-out base — the flightline is 4+ miles from the gate; allow extra time to reach your work center
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Primary cable provider in Marysville/Yuba City; speeds up to 1.2 Gbps; widely available and reliable
- AT&T Fiber — Available in parts of Yuba City and Lincoln/Roseville; symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in populated areas; unlimited at $50/month; viable for remote work
- Starlink — Popular for rural areas around Wheatland and the foothills; excellent for remote work where wired options are limited
- Top pick: AT&T Fiber where available (best speeds/value); Xfinity reliable everywhere else
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked for base size; shoppette and Class Six for essentials
- Yuba City: Walmart Supercenter, Sam's Club, WinCo Foods (discount grocery), Home Depot, and the Yuba Sutter Mall (JCPenney, various retailers)
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Nugget Market (premium local grocer, excellent deli and bakery), Raley's, Walmart, and local farmers markets in Yuba City and Marysville
- Dining: The Brick Coffee House and Cafe (Marysville historic district), Sopa Thai (Yuba City), The Refuge (Marysville, gastropub), and Marcello's Italian Restaurant (Yuba City)
- Roseville Galleria (35 min south): Major regional mall with Nordstrom, Apple Store, Lululemon, and 200+ stores; plus the Fountains at Roseville outdoor lifestyle center
- Sacramento (45 min south): DOCO (Downtown Commons), Arden Fair Mall, Costco, and a vibrant Midtown dining and arts scene
Gyms & Recreation
- Beale AFB Fitness Center — 24/7 facility with cardio, free weights, CrossFit area, indoor basketball, racquetball, and group classes; modern and well-maintained
- Beale AFB Golf Course — 9-hole course on base; well-maintained, driving range, pro shop, and clubhouse; affordable greens fees for a California course
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Camping, fishing, and water sports gear; tickets and travel for Sacramento Kings games, San Francisco attractions, Lake Tahoe, and Napa Valley wine tours
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, community center, sports fields, seasonal outdoor pool, and library
- Yuba River / Collins Lake (10-20 min east) — Swimming, kayaking, and fishing in the Yuba River canyon; Collins Lake offers camping, boating, and excellent trout and bass fishing
- Lake Tahoe (1.5-2 hrs east) — World-class skiing (Palisades, Heavenly, Northstar), hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail, and stunning alpine lake recreation
- The Sutter Buttes (20 min west) — The world's smallest mountain range; guided hikes available through the Middle Mountain Foundation
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local spouse employers; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the 9th RW intelligence and ISR mission
- Defense contractors: Northrop Grumman (Global Hawk support), Lockheed Martin (U-2 support), and multiple intelligence/ISR contractors — strong demand for cleared professionals in IT, engineering, and analysis
- Local economy: Healthcare (Adventist Health/Rideout Hospital, Yuba City), agriculture (Sunsweet, major rice and fruit growers), education, and retail
- Sacramento metro (45 min): Vast state government employment (CalPERS, CalSTRS, dozens of agencies), healthcare (Sutter Health, Kaiser, UC Davis Medical Center), and growing tech sector (Intel Folsom, various startups)
- Remote work: Excellent option for Beale spouses — California BAH + remote work income combination is powerful; fast internet widely available
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support, resume workshops, and federal employment guidance
Local Attractions
- Lake Tahoe (1.5-2 hrs) — America's largest alpine lake; Emerald Bay, Sand Harbor beaches, world-class skiing at 14+ resorts, and the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail encircling the lake
- San Francisco (2.5 hrs) — Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, cable cars, and world-class dining; an easy weekend trip from Beale
- Napa Valley (1.5 hrs) — World-famous wine region; the Silverado Trail, Calistoga hot springs, Michelin-starred restaurants, and the Napa Valley Wine Train
- Empire Mine State Historic Park (Grass Valley, 45 min) — One of California's oldest gold mines; tour the mansion, gardens, and mine shaft of the Gold Rush era
- Yosemite National Park (3 hrs) — Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, and the iconic Valley floor; a longer day trip or weekend adventure
- Sutter Buttes (20 min) — The world's smallest mountain range rising from the Central Valley; guided hikes offer unique geology and panoramic valley views
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Beale AFB Main Gate — home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing
base
The U-2 Dragon Lady — high-altitude ISR operations at Beale AFB
neighborhood
Historic downtown Marysville — the gateway to California Gold Country
nature
The Yuba River canyon — swimming and kayaking near Beale AFB
downtown
Downtown Marysville with its historic Gold Rush-era architecture
restaurant
Beale AFB flightline — the 9th RW's high-altitude ISR operations center