New Mexico
Holloman Air Force Base
📍 Alamogordo, New Mexico
Home to the 49th Wing operating F-16 Vipers and MQ-9 Reapers, Holloman is also the primary training base for German Air Force pilots.
BAH Rates
MHA: NM009 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,155/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,368/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,026/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,725/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,281/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Balfour Beatty Communities manages privatized housing — single-family homes, townhomes in desert-landscaped neighborhoods; wait lists typically 0-6 months depending on rank and availability
- Off-base (Alamogordo): Most families rent or buy in Alamogordo proper; rentals $800-$1,500/month; BAH provides comfortable coverage in this low-cost market
- Top pick: Northeast Alamogordo (Scenic Drive area) — 10-15 min commute, newer homes with mountain views, quieter residential streets, close to schools and shopping on White Sands Boulevard
- First-time buyers: Alamogordo has one of the lowest median home prices near any CONUS AFB — $180K-$250K buys a solid 3-4 bedroom home; USDA and VA loans widely used
- Note: Holloman has on-base housing waitlists that move quickly; many families live on-base the first year then buy off-base after getting to know the area. Desert climate — extremely dry, mild winters, hot summers (AC is essential)
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Northeast Alamogordo (Scenic Drive / Indian Wells) — 10-15 min commute, most desirable area, newer construction, mountain views, access to hiking trails, Alameda Park and Zoo nearby
- Central Alamogordo — 8-12 min commute, historic homes and mid-century builds, established neighborhoods with mature trees, walking distance to White Sands Boulevard shopping corridor
- La Luz / Tularosa Basin — 15-20 min north of base, rural/semi-rural living, larger lots (1-5 acres), historic adobe homes, quieter pace, popular with retirees and those wanting space
- High Rolls / Cloudcroft (mountain communities) — 30-45 min commute into the Sacramento Mountains, pine forests at 8,000-9,000 ft elevation, cool summers, popular summer cabins and weekend escapes; full-time living is rare but possible for those who don't mind the drive
- Note: Avoid areas immediately adjacent to the base's south side (ordnance/testing areas can generate noise); the housing office can provide noise zone maps
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Holloman Elementary (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, K-5, strong military community
Sierra Elementary⭐ 4/10
Alamogordo, close to base
Yucca Elementary⭐ 4/10
Alamogordo area
North Elementary⭐ 4/10
Alamogordo
🏫 Middle Schools
Holloman Middle School (DoDEA)⭐ 6/10
On-base, grades 6-8
Mountain View Middle School⭐ 4/10
Alamogordo, largest middle school
Chaparral Middle School⭐ 4/10
Alamogordo area
🏫 High Schools
Alamogordo High School⭐ 5/10
Alamogordo, diverse programs, AP offered
Academy Del Sol⭐ 4/10
Charter alternative in Alamogordo
Cloudcroft High School⭐ 6/10
Mountain community, smaller, higher-rated
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Hwy 70/White Sands Blvd) — Primary gate, 24/7, 2-10 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), direct access from Alamogordo
- West Gate (Hwy 70) — Secondary gate convenient for those coming from Las Cruces direction; shorter waits, limited hours (typically 0530-1800 weekdays)
- Tip: Traffic is minimal compared to most AFBs — peak congestion is brief and rarely exceeds 10 minutes; Alamogordo has zero real traffic issues
- Note: Gate hours can shift based on FPCON and exercise schedules; check the 49th Wing app or Facebook for current hours
Internet Providers
- TDS Telecom — Primary cable/fiber provider in Alamogordo; fiber speeds up to 1 Gbps available in most neighborhoods; most reliable option for base-proximate areas
- Plateau — Regional telecom cooperative; DSL and fiber in parts of Alamogordo and Tularosa Basin; good customer service, fiber expanding
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in Alamogordo; $50/month unlimited; solid backup or primary option for renters
- Verizon 5G Home Internet — Available in parts of Alamogordo; speeds vary by location
- Starlink — Popular in rural areas (La Luz, High Rolls, Cloudcroft) where cable/fiber doesn't reach; $120/month, excellent speeds for rural living
- Top pick: TDS Fiber where available; Starlink for rural/mountain living
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Holloman Exchange and commissary — well-stocked with groceries, uniforms, electronics; Shoppette and Class Six; smaller than larger bases but covers essentials well
- Alamogordo: White Sands Boulevard is the main retail corridor — Walmart Supercenter, Lowe's, Ross, Hobby Lobby, and chain restaurants; Albertsons and Lowe's Grocery for groceries
- Historic downtown Alamogordo (New York Avenue): Local boutiques, antique shops, coffee houses (Roadrunner Emporium, Rocket City Coffee), and the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts
- Las Cruces (70 miles / 1 hour): Mesilla Valley Mall with Dillard's, JCPenney, larger shopping selection; Costco in east Las Cruces; worth a monthly trip
- El Paso, TX (100 miles / 1.5 hours): Major metro shopping — Cielo Vista Mall, The Fountains at Farah, Bassett Place; full big-city retail experience, plus a major international airport
Gyms & Recreation
- Holloman Fitness Center — 24/7 access, cardio machines, free weights, functional fitness area, basketball court, racquetball, group fitness classes; recently renovated
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Ski and snowboard packages for Ski Apache (Ruidoso, 1 hour); camping, hiking, and water sports gear; White Sands sledding discs (must-buy item for newcomers!)
- Holloman FAMCamp — On-base RV campground with full hookups, desert setting, bathhouse; $15-25/night, convenient for visiting family or PCS stopover
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, equestrian center (yes — horses on a fighter base!), community center, seasonal outdoor pool, and the base stables with boarding available
- White Sands National Park (20 min) — 275 square miles of gypsum sand dunes; sledding, hiking, full-moon nights, photography; free with America the Beautiful pass (free for military)
- Lincoln National Forest / Cloudcroft (45 min) — Pine forest escape at 9,000 ft; hiking, mountain biking, camping in summer; snow play and cross-country skiing in winter; 20-30°F cooler than Alamogordo
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions in aircraft maintenance, operations support, and administration
- Defense contractors: Major opportunities at Holloman — M1 Support Services (aircraft maintenance), L-3 Communications, and several smaller firms supporting the 49th Wing and German Air Force Flying Training Center
- Alamogordo Public Schools: Consistent hiring for teachers, aides, bus drivers, and administrative staff; military spouses with teaching credentials often find positions quickly
- Healthcare: Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center — largest employer in Otero County; nursing, allied health, IT, and administrative roles; also several clinics and specialty practices
- White Sands Missile Range (25 miles): Large Army installation with DOD civilian and contractor positions in engineering, test operations, and logistics
- Remote work: Alamogordo's extremely low cost of living makes remote work highly advantageous; good internet via TDS Fiber in most of the city; Mountain time zone works well for both West and Central time roles
Local Attractions
- White Sands National Park — 20 min from base; the world's largest gypsum dune field, 275 square miles of brilliant white sand; sled down the dunes, hike the Alkali Flat Trail, stay for sunset when the sands glow pink and purple; free admission for military with America the Beautiful pass
- Lincoln National Forest and Cloudcroft — 45 min up into the Sacramento Mountains; escape the desert heat at 9,000 ft; the charming village of Cloudcroft has a historic lodge, quaint shops, and the westernmost railroad trestle in the U.S.; year-round outdoor recreation
- New Mexico Museum of Space History — In Alamogordo, 10 min from base; four-story museum with rockets, space artifacts, and the International Space Hall of Fame; Alamogordo's deep ties to the space program (Holloman's high-speed test track and the chimpanzee space program)
- Ruidoso and Ski Apache — 1 hour northeast; the southernmost ski resort in the U.S. operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe; 55 runs, mountain biking in summer, and the Inn of the Mountain Gods resort and casino on the reservation
- Three Rivers Petroglyph Site — 30 min north; over 21,000 petroglyphs created by the Jornada Mogollon people between 900-1400 AD; one of the largest and most accessible petroglyph sites in the Southwest, with a rugged hiking trail and incredible views of the Tularosa Basin
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park (2 hours southeast) and Guadalupe Mountains National Park (2 hours); weekend trips to El Paso, Juarez border culture, and the Gila Wilderness are all within reach
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
T-38 Talons on the Holloman flight line — home of the 49th Wing fighter training mission
nature
White Sands National Park — 275 square miles of gypsum dunes 20 minutes from base
neighborhood
Alamogordo with the Sacramento Mountains rising behind — downtown shops and dining
base
F-16 Viper takes off from Holloman — one of the Air Force's busiest fighter training runways
base
MQ-9 Reapers in the 49th AMXS hangar — Holloman's remotely piloted aircraft mission
housing
New Mexico desert living — affordable homes and mountain views around Alamogordo