Arizona
Luke Air Force Base
📍 Glendale, Arizona
The Air Force's largest fighter training base, home to the 56th Fighter Wing training F-35A and F-16 pilots in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
BAH Rates
MHA: AZ023 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,920/mo
E-5 with Dependents$2,220/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,749/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,796/mo
O-3 without Dependents$2,235/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Luke Family Housing (Hunt Military Communities) — mix of single-family homes and townhomes with desert landscaping; newer inventory added for F-35 mission growth
- Off-base: Surprise, Goodyear, and Litchfield Park — median single-family homes $380k-$550k; strong new-construction market with master-planned communities
- BAH: Phoenix BAH is competitive; covers most 3-4 bedroom rentals comfortably in the West Valley
- Top pick: Verrado (Buckeye) and Estrella Mountain Ranch (Goodyear) for resort-style master-planned living; Surprise for established neighborhoods and shorter commute
- Note: Phoenix summers are brutal — prioritize homes with good AC, pool access, and north/south orientation for energy bills
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Surprise — Most popular military family suburb, 10-20 min commute, good schools (Dysart USD), abundant shopping, and Surprise Stadium (spring training)
- Goodyear — Growing fast, 15-25 min commute, master-planned communities like Estrella, good schools in Litchfield Elementary and Agua Fria districts
- Litchfield Park — Historic charming town just outside base, 5-10 min commute, tree-lined streets, tight community, smaller housing inventory
- Verrado (Buckeye) — 20-30 min commute, stunning master-planned community with walkable Main Street, golf courses, and mountain views; worth the extra drive for many families
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Luke Elementary⭐ 4/10
Close to base
Country Place Elementary⭐ 5/10
Near Luke, diverse
Desert Oasis Elementary⭐ 5/10
Nearby, bilingual programs
🏫 Middle Schools
Western Sky Middle School⭐ 4/10
Closest to Luke
Wigwam Creek Middle School⭐ 6/10
Litchfield Park area
Verrado Middle School⭐ 7/10
Buckeye, strong reputation
🏫 High Schools
Dysart High School⭐ 4/10
Closest to base, diverse
Millennium High School⭐ 7/10
Goodyear, strong academics
Verrado High School⭐ 7/10
Buckeye, growing community
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Litchfield Rd) — Busiest entry, 10-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:00 AM), serves Surprise and Litchfield Park traffic
- North Gate (Northern Ave) — Serves El Mirage commuters, 5-10 min peak, newer gate with good flow
- South Gate (Glendale Ave) — Convenient for Goodyear and south-side housing, 5-10 min peak
- Note: Phoenix traffic on Loop 303 and I-10 can spike gate waits during accidents; use 511 for real-time traffic
Internet Providers
- Cox Communications — Dominant cable provider across the West Valley, plans up to 1 Gbps; data caps are a common frustration
- CenturyLink (Lumen) — DSL and expanding fiber in some areas; speeds vary widely by neighborhood
- T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home — Strong 5G coverage in Phoenix metro; fixed wireless works well in most West Valley locations
- Top pick: Cox Gigablast for speed, but watch the 1.25 TB data cap; 5G Home as backup or budget option
Shopping & Dining
- Westgate Entertainment District (Glendale) — Dining, bars, shopping, and home of the Arizona Cardinals stadium and Phoenix Coyotes arena
- Tanger Outlets (Glendale) — 80+ outlet stores at Loop 303 and Glendale Ave, 5 min from base
- Groceries: Fry's (Kroger), Safeway, WinCo, Costco, Walmart Supercenters everywhere; commissary on-base well-stocked
- Dining: State 48 Brewery, Cuff (Glendale), Arrowhead Grill, and endless Mexican food options (the West Valley has some of the best in Phoenix)
- Surprise: Surprise Marketplace and Prasada shopping center are expanding rapidly with new retail and dining
Gyms & Recreation
- Luke Fitness Center — Large facility with weight rooms, cardio, basketball, racquetball, and group fitness; Bryant Fitness Center is a second on-base option
- Outdoor Recreation — Rents camping gear, boats, and offers discounted tickets to Grand Canyon, Sedona, and Phoenix attractions
- On-base: Bowling alley, swimming pools, sports fields, and the Luke Air Force Base Club with dining and event space
- Hiking: White Tank Mountain Regional Park is 10 min west — stunning desert hiking with waterfalls in spring; Thunderbird Conservation Park is also close
- Spring training: 15 MLB teams train within 30 min — Surprise Stadium (Royals/Rangers), Camelback Ranch (Dodgers/White Sox), Peoria Sports Complex (Padres/Mariners)
- Lake Pleasant — 30 min north, boating, fishing, camping, and an epic place to escape Phoenix summer heat
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- Defense contractors: Lockheed Martin (F-35 program), Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems all maintain Luke-support offices
- Healthcare: Banner Health, Abrazo Health, and HonorHealth are major regional employers with multiple West Valley campuses
- Education: Dysart USD, Litchfield Elementary District, and numerous charter schools hire regularly
- Phoenix economy: Growing tech sector (Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor), finance (USAA, State Farm regional hubs), and construction
- Military spouse: Luke Employment Readiness Program offers career counseling, resume workshops, and job fairs; Phoenix's large economy provides more diverse opportunities than smaller base towns
- Clearance jobs: Major aerospace presence in Phoenix/Tucson corridor means cleared positions are abundant
Local Attractions
- Grand Canyon (3.5 hrs north) — South Rim is accessible for weekend trips; one of the world's natural wonders
- Sedona (2 hrs north) — Red rock formations, world-class hiking, art galleries, and vortex spirituality; a must-see day or weekend trip
- Phoenix/Scottsdale — Desert Botanical Garden, Old Town Scottsdale, Musical Instrument Museum, and Camelback Mountain hiking
- Flagstaff (2.5 hrs north) — Skiing in winter (Snowbowl), cool mountain escape in summer, historic Route 66 downtown
- Spring training — Cactus League baseball every March with 15 teams across the Phoenix metro; a uniquely Arizona experience
- San Diego (5 hrs west) — Beach weekend doable for long weekends; cooler coastal escape from summer heat
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
F-35A Lightning II training at Luke Air Force Base
neighborhood
Verrado master-planned community in Buckeye with mountain views
housing
Desert-landscaped family housing in Surprise
nature
Saguaro cacti at White Tank Mountain Regional Park
downtown
Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale
restaurant
Authentic Sonoran Mexican food in the West Valley