Texas
Goodfellow Air Force Base
📍 San Angelo, Texas
A joint-service intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training hub, Goodfellow trains firefighters and intelligence professionals across all military branches.
BAH Rates
MHA: TX081 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,317/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,548/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,188/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,953/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,521/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Hunt Military Communities — single-family homes and townhomes; wait lists 0-3 months; mix of 1960s-era and newer homes; the base is compact so everything on base is walkable
- Off-base (San Angelo): Most permanent-party families live off-base; rentals $800-$1,400/month; BAH covers comfortably; wide range of options from historic homes to new subdivisions
- Off-base (surrounding): Some families choose Wall, Christoval, or Mertzon (15-25 min) for small-town living and good schools
- Top pick: Southwest San Angelo / Southland area — 10-15 min to gate, newer construction, good schools, near shopping along Sherwood Way, popular with Goodfellow families
- Note: San Angelo is an affordable West Texas city — you can buy a nice 3BR/2BA home for $180K-$280K; the cost of living is well below the national average; BAH goes far here
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Southwest San Angelo — 10-15 min commute, newest residential growth area, San Angelo ISD, near Sunset Mall and Sherwood Way retail, popular with permanent-party families
- College Hills / ASU area — 10-15 min, established neighborhood near Angelo State University, tree-lined streets, mix of mid-century and updated homes, strong neighborhood association
- Downtown / Santa Rita — 10-15 min, historic neighborhood with 1920s-1940s homes, walkable to the revitalized downtown, the Concho River Walk, and emerging restaurants and shops
- Wall — 15-20 min southeast, small German-Czech heritage town, highly-rated Wall ISD (small but excellent), rural-suburban feel, larger lots — popular with families prioritizing schools
- Christoval — 20-25 min south, small town on the South Concho River, excellent Christoval ISD, pecan orchards and riverside living, very peaceful
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Lamar Elementary⭐ 4/10
San Angelo, closest to base
Santa Rita Elementary⭐ 5/10
San Angelo, strong community
Bowie Elementary⭐ 5/10
San Angelo, dual-language program
Crockett Elementary⭐ 4/10
San Angelo, near base area
🏫 Middle Schools
Glenn Middle School⭐ 5/10
San Angelo, newer facility
Lincoln Middle School⭐ 4/10
San Angelo, diverse programs
Lee Middle School⭐ 4/10
San Angelo
🏫 High Schools
Central High School⭐ 5/10
San Angelo, largest high school, diverse
Lake View High School⭐ 4/10
San Angelo, closer to base area
Central Freshman Campus⭐ 5/10
Ninth-grade campus feeding Central
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Kearney Boulevard) — Primary entry, 24/7, 0-5 min peak waits, direct access from central San Angelo; the base is compact and easy to navigate
- Note: Goodfellow is a small, compact installation — the developed area is about 1 square mile; you can walk end-to-end in 15 minutes; traffic is essentially non-existent
Internet Providers
- Optimum (Suddenlink) — Primary cable provider in San Angelo; speeds up to 1 Gbps; widely available
- AT&T — DSL and fiber expanding in San Angelo; fiber available in parts of southwest San Angelo and newer developments
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in San Angelo; $50/month unlimited
- Starlink — Good option for rural Wall/Christoval/Mertzon areas; excellent speeds
- Top pick: AT&T Fiber where available; Optimum cable reliable city-wide
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked, good size for a training base with a large student population; shoppette and Class Six
- Sunset Mall (10-15 min): JCPenney, Bealls, and 60+ stores; the city's main enclosed shopping
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base H-E-B (the beloved Texas grocer, 2 locations in San Angelo), Market Street, and Walmart Supercenter
- Dining: Zentner's Daughter Steak House (San Angelo institution since 1966, legendary steaks and onion rings), Franco's Cafe (Tex-Mex institution), The Grill (downtown, upscale American), and Twisted Root Burger Co. (Texas burger chain, great patio on the Concho River)
- Downtown San Angelo (10 min): Historic buildings with local boutiques, art galleries (San Angelo is a Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural District), the Cactus Hotel (historic 1929 hotel, now event space), and the monthly First Friday art walk
Gyms & Recreation
- Goodfellow AFB Fitness Center — 24/7 with cardio, free weights, functional fitness, indoor basketball, racquetball, and group classes; solid facility serving the training population
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Camping, fishing, and water sports gear; organized trips to San Antonio (3 hrs), Austin (3 hrs), Big Bend National Park, and Texas Hill Country; hunting and fishing programs
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, community center, sports fields, pool, library, and the Goodfellow AFB History and Heritage Center
- Concho River Walk (10 min) — Downtown San Angelo's riverfront trail along the Concho River; walking, biking, public art installations, and the best spot to see the San Angelo International Water Lily Collection (one of the world's largest)
- Lake Nasworthy (15 min south) — City reservoir for boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, fishing (bass, catfish, crappie), swimming beaches, and lakeside parks; Middle Concho Park has camping and picnicking
- San Angelo State Park (20 min) — 7,600 acres with hiking, mountain biking, bison and longhorn herds, and O.C. Fisher Reservoir for fishing; the park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the 17th TRW training mission — instructors, training specialists, and support staff
- Defense contractors: Limited compared to operational bases — primarily training support contractors for ISR and firefighting curricula, IT support, and base operations
- San Angelo economy: Healthcare (Shannon Medical Center and San Angelo Community Medical Center, both major employers), Angelo State University, agriculture/ranching, and manufacturing (Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson has a plant)
- Remote work: Excellent option — low cost of living maximizes remote income; Central time zone works for both East and West coast remote jobs; Optimum cable and AT&T fiber provide solid internet
- Texas workforce: Texas Workforce Commission has a strong presence in San Angelo with job placement programs; the Texas Veterans Commission provides military spouse employment support
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support; the base's training mission means a high student throughput but smaller permanent-party spouse job pool
Local Attractions
- San Angelo State Park (20 min) — Hiking, mountain biking, bison and Texas longhorn herds, and some of the best stargazing in Texas as an International Dark Sky Park; great for weekend camping
- The Concho River Walk and Water Lily Collection — The 'Oasis of West Texas'; stroll the riverfront, visit the International Water Lily Collection, see the whimsical painted sheep statues (homage to the city's sheep-ranching heritage) scattered around town
- Fort Concho National Historic Landmark (downtown, 10 min) — One of the best-preserved frontier forts in America; 24 original and restored buildings from the 1860s-1880s; the fort that protected West Texas settlers and gave San Angelo its start
- San Antonio (3 hrs southeast) — The Alamo, River Walk, and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (UNESCO World Heritage); a perfect weekend trip from San Angelo
- Big Bend National Park (4.5 hrs southwest) — Remote, rugged, and spectacular: the Chisos Mountains, Santa Elena Canyon on the Rio Grande, and some of the darkest night skies in North America; a must-do during your tour
- Fredericksburg and Texas Wine Country (2.5 hrs southeast) — Over 100 wineries and tasting rooms, the National Museum of the Pacific War, and the charming German-heritage Main Street — an excellent weekend escape
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Goodfellow AFB — joint-service ISR and firefighter training center
base
The 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow AFB — training tomorrow's force
neighborhood
Historic San Angelo — the host city for Goodfellow AFB families
nature
The Concho River flowing through San Angelo — the heart of the city
downtown
Historic downtown San Angelo and the Concho River Walk
restaurant
Zentner's Daughter Steak House — a San Angelo institution since 1966