BaseCompass
Washington

Fairchild Air Force Base Housing Guide

📍 Spokane, Washington

Tips for Military Families

  • Start your housing search early — on-base waitlists can be 6–12 months at popular bases.
  • Check current BAH rates on the DTMO calculator before setting your housing budget — rates change annually.
  • Join local military spouse Facebook groups for unfiltered rental reviews and landlord recommendations from families who've been there.

Everything you need to know about on-base and off-base housing options near Fairchild Air Force Base. We cover BAH rates, popular neighborhoods for military families stationed in Spokane, Washington, commute times, and what to expect from base housing communities.

On-base: Hunt Military Communities manages privatized housing — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes in wooded campus-style neighborhoods; wait lists typically 1-4 months depending on rank

Off-base (Airway Heights/Spokane): Most families rent in Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Cheney, and northwest Spokane; rentals $1,200-$2,400/month; BAH covers well in the Spokane market

Top pick: Airway Heights — 5-10 min commute to base, newest housing stock in the area, Northern Quest Casino/Resort complex with dining and entertainment, Yoke's grocery and Walmart nearby

First-time buyers: Medical Lake (10 min south) — small-town feel, affordable homes, lakeside living at Medical Lake and West Medical Lake, good schools

Note: Spokane has four distinct seasons with cold, snowy winters (avg 45 inches snow); on-base housing handles snow removal and maintenance — a real benefit November-March