California
Edwards Air Force Base
📍 Rosamond, California
The Air Force Test Center's flagship location, Edwards is where cutting-edge aircraft and systems undergo rigorous flight testing in the Mojave Desert.
BAH Rates
MHA: CA050 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,809/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,187/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,653/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,757/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,124/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Mayroad manages privatized housing — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes spread across several quiet desert neighborhoods; wait times typically 1-3 months, often immediate availability for some ranks
- Off-base (Lancaster/Palmdale): Most off-base families live in west Lancaster, Quartz Hill, and Palmdale; rentals $1,600-$2,800/month; BAH covers decently in the Antelope Valley market
- Top pick: Quartz Hill — 25-min commute, best schools in the Antelope Valley, suburban feel with mature trees and larger lots, popular with officer and civilian families
- On-base perks: Housing includes all utilities, maintenance, and landscaping — valuable in the high-desert heat where AC costs are significant
- Note: Summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F; on-base housing with covered parking and maintained AC systems is a significant quality-of-life factor
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Quartz Hill (West Lancaster) — 25-min commute, top-rated schools in the Antelope Valley, larger lots with mature landscaping, very popular with testing community families
- West Palmdale (Rancho Vista) — 30-min commute, newer upscale developments, golf course community, good schools, best shopping and dining access
- Rosamond — 20-min commute, closer to base, smaller town feel, more affordable, growing with new construction, mixed school quality
- Tehachapi — 45-min commute into the mountains, completely different climate (cooler summers, snow in winter), small mountain town charm, excellent schools, popular with those willing to trade commute for quality of life
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Desert Junior-Senior High (elem)⭐ 4/10
On-base, Muroc district
Rosamond Elementary⭐ 4/10
Rosamond, closest off-base
Westpark Elementary⭐ 6/10
Rosamond
🏫 Middle Schools
Desert Junior-Senior High (middle)⭐ 4/10
On-base, Muroc district
Rosamond Middle⭐ 4/10
Closest off-base
Tropico Middle School⭐ 4/10
Rosamond
🏫 High Schools
Desert Junior-Senior High School⭐ 4/10
On-base, Muroc district
Rosamond High School⭐ 4/10
Closest off-base
Lancaster High School⭐ 5/10
Lancaster, more programs
Gates & Commute
- West Gate (Rosamond Blvd) — Primary gate from Rosamond and Highway 14, 24/7, 10-20 min peak waits (6:00-7:30 AM), access to main base area
- North Gate — Secondary access, shorter waits, convenient for flightline and NASA Armstrong center, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays)
- South Gate — Access from Lancaster/Palmdale via Avenue A/120th St East, shorter peak waits than West Gate, limited hours
- Tip: West Gate backs up significantly 6:30-7:15 AM — Lancaster/Palmdale commuters should use South Gate; the 45-min Tehachapi commute over Tehachapi Pass adds time but avoids all gate congestion
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Primary cable internet provider for Lancaster, Palmdale, and Rosamond; speeds up to 1 Gbps; widely available in the Antelope Valley
- AT&T Fiber — Limited fiber availability in Lancaster and Palmdale; symmetrical up to 1 Gbps where available; DSL only in more remote areas
- Race Communications — Fiber provider expanding in the Antelope Valley; speeds up to 10 Gbps in select areas; newer builds and some Rosamond coverage
- Starlink — Popular choice for on-base housing and rural areas (Tehachapi, outlying desert areas); excellent for remote work given limited wired options in some locations
- Top pick: Race fiber or AT&T Fiber where available; Spectrum cable reliable in-city; Starlink for on-base and rural dwellers
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Edwards Exchange and commissary — medium-sized and well-maintained; crucial shopping hub given the remote location; Shoppette and Class Six
- Lancaster (Avenue K corridor): Target, Walmart Supercenter, Costco, Lowe's, chain restaurants; the Antelope Valley Mall has Macy's, JCPenney, and an IMAX theater
- Palmdale (10th St West): Additional shopping corridor with Trader Joe's, Kohl's, and more dining options; Palmdale also has a Cinemark and newer commercial developments
- Santa Clarita (1 hr south): Valencia Town Center Mall, upscale dining, and big-box stores; popular weekend shopping trip for Edwards families
- Dining: Local favorites include The Lemon Leaf Cafe in Lancaster for farm-to-table, Vincent Hill Station in Acton for steaks and live music, and Don Sal Cocina for authentic Mexican
Gyms & Recreation
- Edwards Fitness Centers — Two on-base gyms (Main and North Base) with 24/7 access; extensive cardio, free weights, functional fitness areas, group classes, and indoor basketball
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Equipment rental for camping, dirt biking, and desert exploration; discounted tickets to Southern California attractions (Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott's, Six Flags Magic Mountain)
- Rod & Gun Club — On-base shooting range for rifle, pistol, trap, and skeet; affordable memberships and open to all base personnel
- On-base: Bowling alley, club, community center, auto hobby shop, sports fields, base pool (seasonal outdoor), and the Air Force Flight Test Museum (free admission)
- Mojave Desert — Literally your backyard: off-roading, dirt biking, hiking, rock climbing (Red Rock Canyon State Park 1 hr north), and some of the best stargazing in California at nearby Fossil Falls
- Day trips: Los Angeles (1.5-2 hrs south) for beaches, museums, dining, and all major sports; Mammoth Mountain (3 hrs north) for world-class skiing; Death Valley (2.5 hrs northeast) for surreal desert landscapes
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG test support, engineering, and admin positions
- NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center — Major on-base employer of civilians; engineering, research, and technical positions supporting flight test operations
- Defense contractors: Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics all maintain significant Edwards test operations — engineering, flight test, and program management roles
- Antelope Valley civilian: Aerospace dominates — additional opportunities with Virgin Galactic, Scaled Composites (Mojave), and Stratolaunch at the Mojave Air & Space Port
- Healthcare: Kaiser Permanente and Antelope Valley Medical Center in Lancaster/Palmdale — nursing, allied health, and administrative roles; growing with the Antelope Valley population
- Remote work: Commuting to LA is possible (Metrolink from Lancaster to downtown LA, 2 hrs) but demanding; remote work is ideal for Edwards spouses given base's isolation
Local Attractions
- Air Force Flight Test Museum — On base; open to the public via West Gate visitor access; see the actual Bell X-1 (first supersonic aircraft), SR-71 Blackbird, and dozens of historic test aircraft — a must-see
- Red Rock Canyon State Park — 1 hr north on Highway 14; stunning red cliffs and canyons, hiking trails, camping; used as a filming location for countless movies (Jurassic Park, Planet of the Apes)
- Vasquez Rocks Natural Area — 45 min south near Agua Dulce; iconic tilted rock formations, hiking and horseback riding, another famous filming location (Star Trek, Bonanza)
- Mojave Air & Space Port — 20 min east in Mojave; the civilian center of experimental aviation; tour Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites facilities (advance booking); see the Stratolaunch Roc, the world's largest aircraft by wingspan
- Los Angeles — 1.5-2 hrs south; Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, Universal Studios, and world-class museums (LACMA, The Broad, California Science Center with Space Shuttle Endeavour)
- Death Valley National Park — 2.5 hrs northeast; the hottest, driest, and lowest national park; Badwater Basin (282 ft below sea level), Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and surreal desert landscapes best visited October-April
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Experimental aircraft on the Edwards dry lakebed — where aerospace history is made
nature
Mojave Desert landscape — vast dry lakebeds and Joshua tree-studded terrain
neighborhood
Quartz Hill neighborhood — mature trees and suburban living in west Lancaster
housing
On-base housing at Edwards — quiet desert living with mountain views
downtown
Downtown Lancaster — the revitalized BLVD cultural and arts district
restaurant
Local Antelope Valley dining — farm-to-table cuisine in the high desert