California
Los Angeles Air Force Base
📍 El Segundo, California
Home to the Space Systems Command, Los Angeles AFB manages the acquisition and development of military space systems and satellite programs.
BAH Rates
MHA: CA031 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$3,105/mo
E-5 with Dependents$3,624/mo
E-5 without Dependents$2,658/mo
O-3 with Dependents$4,563/mo
O-3 without Dependents$3,702/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Very limited on-base housing — a small number of units at Fort MacArthur (San Pedro, 20-25 min south) primarily for senior leaders; no family housing on the El Segundo campus
- Off-base: All families live off-base in the South Bay; BAH is extremely high ($3,400-$4,600/month) reflecting LA's cost of living; rents for a 3BR home range $3,500-$5,500/month
- Top pick: El Segundo and Manhattan Beach — walking/biking distance to base, top-rated schools, beach lifestyle; premium pricing but saves commute
- More affordable: Torrance, Redondo Beach, and North Redondo — 15-30 min commute, excellent schools, more house for the BAH dollar
- Note: LA traffic is legendary — living within 10 miles of base is worth the premium; the 405 and 105 freeways define quality of life
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- El Segundo — 'Mayberry by the Sea,' 5 min commute, small-town feel with tree-lined streets and a charming downtown, excellent El Segundo Unified schools, extremely popular with base families
- Manhattan Beach — 5-10 min south, upscale beach community, top-rated Manhattan Beach Unified schools, Strand and pier, premium pricing (median home $2M+)
- Redondo Beach — 10-15 min south, more affordable than Manhattan Beach, excellent Redondo Unified schools, Riviera Village shopping/dining, strong family vibe
- Torrance — 15-25 min south, largest South Bay city with diverse housing stock from condos to single-family homes, strong Torrance Unified schools, Del Amo Fashion Center shopping
- Playa Vista / Westchester — 10-15 min north, newer urban-infill development with tech employers (YouTube, Google), parks and walkability, LAUSD schools require careful navigation
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
El Segundo Middle/Elementary (Center St)⭐ 8/10
El Segundo USD, strong local district
Wiseburn Elementary (Da Vinci)⭐ 7/10
Wiseburn USD, near LA AFB
Pacific Elementary (Manhattan Beach)⭐ 9/10
Manhattan Beach USD, top-rated
Grand View Elementary (Manhattan Beach)⭐ 9/10
Manhattan Beach USD, excellent
🏫 Middle Schools
El Segundo Middle School⭐ 8/10
El Segundo USD, strong STEM
Wiseburn Middle (Da Vinci)⭐ 7/10
Wiseburn USD, project-based learning
Manhattan Beach Middle School⭐ 9/10
Top-rated, ~5 mi from base
🏫 High Schools
El Segundo High School⭐ 9/10
Highly rated, strong college prep
Da Vinci Science High School⭐ 8/10
Wiseburn USD, STEM charter
Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach)⭐ 9/10
Top-tier, excellent all-around
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Douglas Street) — Primary entry at the El Segundo/Nash intersection, 5-15 min peak waits (7:00-9:00 AM), 24/7 operations
- Tip: The base is compact (a few city blocks) — no long internal drives; parking can be tight, arrive early for good spots
- Tip: LAX is adjacent — aircraft noise is part of life at LA AFB; flight paths directly over the base campus
- Tip: Sepulveda Blvd and Rosecrans Avenue are the main arteries; the 105 Freeway terminates a block from base
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Dominant cable provider in the South Bay; speeds up to 1 Gbps; reliable and widely available
- Frontier Fiber — Fiber optic in select South Bay neighborhoods; speeds up to 2 Gbps where available; strong in newer builds
- AT&T Fiber — Expanding fiber coverage in El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance; up to 5 Gbps in some areas
- T-Mobile 5G Home / Verizon 5G Home — Wireless broadband alternatives; good for apartments and condos; $50/month with autopay
- Top pick: AT&T Fiber or Frontier Fiber if available; Spectrum cable as fallback
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Small Exchange and shoppette — limited selection; most families shop off-base; no commissary on the El Segundo campus (nearest: March ARB 1+ hr away or NB San Diego 2 hrs)
- Downtown El Segundo — Main Street with boutique shopping, craft coffee, breweries (El Segundo Brewing, Rock & Brews), and a weekly Thursday farmers market
- Manhattan Village Mall — 10 min; outdoor lifestyle center with Macy's, Apple Store, and upscale dining
- Del Amo Fashion Center (Torrance) — 20 min; one of the largest malls in the U.S. with Nordstrom, Macy's, and 200+ stores
- Groceries: No commissary; Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Ralphs, Bristol Farms, and Costco (Hawthorne) all within 10-15 min
Gyms & Recreation
- LA AFB Fitness Center — Compact but well-equipped gym with cardio, weights, and group fitness classes on the El Segundo campus
- South Bay beaches — Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach are all within 10-15 min; surfing, volleyball, beach running, and the Strand bike path are daily lifestyle perks
- On-base: Limited on-base recreation due to the base's small footprint; Fort MacArthur (San Pedro) has a beach club with cabins and camping available to LA AFB personnel
- Palos Verdes Peninsula — 20-25 min south; dramatic ocean cliffs, hiking at Abalone Cove and Portuguese Bend, tidepooling at Point Vicente, world-class golf at Trump National and Terranea
- The Getty Center and Getty Villa — 30 min (Getty Center) and 45 min (Villa); world-class art museums with stunning architecture and ocean views, free admission (parking $20)
- Outdoor: Runyon Canyon and Griffith Park for Hollywood Sign hikes (30-45 min), Santa Monica Mountains for trail running and mountain biking, and year-round outdoor lifestyle
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: GS and NAF positions through USAJobs; Space Systems Command hiring for program management, engineering, and acquisition roles — high demand for cleared professionals
- Aerospace/defense: El Segundo is the epicenter of space acquisition — Aerospace Corporation (across the street), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, L3Harris, and SpaceX (Hawthorne, 15 min) all have massive operations
- LA tech: Silicon Beach (Playa Vista, Santa Monica, Venice) is home to Google/YouTube, Snap, Electronic Arts, and hundreds of startups; 15-30 min commute
- Entertainment: LA's film/TV/gaming industry is a unique opportunity for spouses in creative fields; studios are within commuting distance
- Remote work: Excellent broadband everywhere; Pacific Time Zone with 3-hour offset from East Coast is a consideration for remote roles
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides career support, federal resume guidance, and LA-area job market resources
Local Attractions
- Manhattan Beach Pier & Strand — Iconic SoCal beach scene; surfing, volleyball, bike path, aquarium at the pier, and sunset dining
- The Getty Center — 30 min; Richard Meier-designed museum with European art, gardens, and panoramic LA views from the Santa Monica Mountains
- Griffith Observatory & Park — 45 min; iconic Art Deco observatory with Hollywood Sign views, planetarium shows, and hiking trails in the Hollywood Hills
- Disneyland & California Adventure — 45 min (without traffic) in Anaheim; military discounts available through MWR/ITT
- Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach Boardwalk — 20-25 min north; iconic pier with Pacific Park amusement rides, Muscle Beach, and eclectic Venice culture
- Weekend trips: Santa Barbara wine country (2 hrs), San Diego (2 hrs), Big Bear Lake skiing (2.5 hrs), Palm Springs (2 hrs), Joshua Tree National Park (2.5 hrs)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, California
neighborhood
Manhattan Beach, top neighborhood choice for LA AFB families
housing
South Bay neighborhood near Los Angeles AFB
nature
Manhattan Beach Pier and Strand, minutes from LA AFB
downtown
Downtown El Segundo, the Mayberry by the Sea
restaurant
Oceanfront dining in Manhattan Beach near LA AFB