Illinois
Scott Air Force Base
📍 Belleville, Illinois
Headquarters of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, Scott directs global military logistics and airlift operations near St. Louis.
BAH Rates
MHA: IL011 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,638/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,920/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,452/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,427/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,911/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Hunt Military Communities manages privatized housing — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes in traditional Midwestern neighborhoods with mature trees; wait lists typically 1-6 months depending on rank, longer for senior officer housing
- Off-base (Belleville/O'Fallon/Shiloh): Most families live off-base in the thriving metro-east Illinois suburbs; rentals $1,100-$2,200/month; BAH provides strong coverage
- Top pick: O'Fallon/Shiloh — 10-15 min commute, consistently ranked among best places to live in Illinois, excellent O'Fallon Township and Shiloh Village schools, booming retail along Green Mount Road and Highway 50, new construction and established neighborhoods
- First-time buyers: Belleville (west end) and Mascoutah — homes $150K-$300K, good schools, short commutes; Mascoutah (10 min east) is the closest town to base with a charming small-town feel
- Note: Scott is a joint base with a large joint-service headquarters population — permanent party, students, and contractors create a very stable housing market; Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation, so factor that into your buying budget ($3,000-$7,000/year on a median home)
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- O'Fallon — 10-15 min commute, the metro-east's premier suburb; top-rated District 90 and O'Fallon Township HS, family-oriented community with a vibrant downtown (O'Fallon Community Park, farmers market, summer concert series), excellent parks and recreation; the #1 choice for Scott families
- Shiloh — 10-15 min commute adjacent to O'Fallon; newer developments, Shiloh Village schools, growing retail (Target, Kohl's along Green Mount Road); shares the O'Fallon Township HS district for older kids
- Mascoutah — 10 min east of base; small-town charm with a historic downtown square, excellent Mascoutah schools, shortest commute possible, very tight-knit community with strong military support; growing with new subdivisions
- Belleville (west end) — 15-20 min commute; historic city with beautiful 19th-century brick homes and tree-lined streets, Belleville West HS, strong arts scene (Art on the Square festival), downtown dining and nightlife; more urban feel with great character
- Swansea / Fairview Heights — 20-25 min commute; established suburbs with good schools, convenient to St. Clair Square mall and I-64 corridor; Fairview Heights has the metro-east's largest retail hub
- Columbia / Waterloo (Monroe County) — 30-35 min southwest; top-rated small school districts, lower taxes than St. Clair County, rural-suburban feel, growing with Scott families willing to trade commute time for schools and space
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Scott Elementary⭐ 5/10
On-base at Scott
Whiteside Elementary⭐ 6/10
Belleville area
🏫 Middle Schools
Central Junior High⭐ 5/10
Belleville
Mascoutah Middle School⭐ 7/10
Near Scott, highly rated
🏫 High Schools
Mascoutah High School⭐ 7/10
Near Scott, top-rated
Belleville East High⭐ 6/10
Belleville
Gates & Commute
- Belleville Gate (IL-158/Air Mobility Drive) — Primary gate, 24/7, 2-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM), direct access from Belleville, O'Fallon, and I-64; this is the main gate everyone uses
- Shiloh Gate (Green Mount Road) — Secondary gate on the north side, convenient for Shiloh and O'Fallon residents; typically 0530-1900 weekdays, shorter waits
- Mascoutah Gate (IL-4) — East gate convenient for Mascoutah residents; limited hours, check current schedule
- Tip: The Belleville Gate backs up during the 7:00-8:00 AM rush — the left-hand lanes are for DOD ID card holders and move faster; Shiloh Gate is the fast-track alternative from the north
- Note: Scott is a large, open base (not behind fences in the traditional sense in some areas) — the base is integrated into the community; the headquarters buildings near the parade field are distinctly separate from the flight line area
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Primary cable provider in the metro-east; speeds up to 1 Gbps; widely available and reliable across Belleville, O'Fallon, Shiloh, and Mascoutah
- AT&T Fiber — Available in parts of O'Fallon, Shiloh, and Belleville; symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps; expanding coverage
- i3 Broadband — Fiber provider expanding in O'Fallon and Shiloh; competitive pricing, good customer service
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Excellent coverage across the metro-east; $50/month unlimited with autopay; fast speeds near major roads and towers
- Verizon 5G Home Internet — Also strong in the area; competitive with T-Mobile
- Top pick: AT&T Fiber or i3 Broadband where available; Spectrum reliable everywhere else
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Scott Exchange and commissary — very large and well-stocked (this is a major command headquarters base); extensive uniform selection, large grocery section with international foods reflecting the joint-service population; Shoppette, Class Six, and extensive food court
- Green Mount Road corridor (Shiloh/O'Fallon, 10-15 min): The metro-east's retail spine — Target, Kohl's, Dierbergs (premium local grocery), Fresh Thyme Market, Home Depot, and dozens of chain restaurants; expanding rapidly with new development
- St. Clair Square (Fairview Heights, 20-25 min): Largest mall in southern Illinois — Macy's, JCPenney, Dillard's, H&M, and a food court; surrounded by big-box retail (Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Dick's Sporting Goods)
- Downtown Belleville (15-20 min): Historic Main Street with local boutiques, antique shops, coffee houses, and Belleville's signature German restaurants and bakeries
- St. Louis metro (25-40 min): The Galleria (Richmond Heights) with Nordstrom and upscale retail; West County Center (Des Peres); Plaza Frontenac (luxury); Costco in St. Peters and South County; Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Total Wine across the metro
Gyms & Recreation
- Scott Fitness Center — Comprehensive 24/7 facility with cardio machines, free weights, CrossFit area, indoor track, basketball courts, racquetball, and extensive group fitness classes; one of the best fitness centers in AMC
- Scott AFB Golf Course (Cardinal Creek) — 18-hole championship course on base; well-maintained, driving range, pro shop, and clubhouse with restaurant; affordable greens fees
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Camping, fishing, and water sports gear; pontoon and fishing boat rentals for area lakes; tickets and travel with discounted St. Louis attraction tickets (Six Flags, Cardinals, Blues, City Museum)
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, community center, sports fields, seasonal outdoor pool, library, and the James Sports Complex with softball fields and tennis courts
- Scott AFB FamCamp — On-base RV campground with full hookups; $20-30/night; open year-round; popular with visiting families and retirees
- Metro-east parks: O'Fallon Community Park (10 min) with walking trails, fishing lake, aquatic center, and summer concert series; Belleville's Bicentennial Park; nearby Horseshoe Lake State Park (fishing and hiking)
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — employers for spouses; USAJobs for an enormous number of GS/WG positions — USTRANSCOM, AMC, 18th Air Force, SDDC, and multiple joint commands create the largest concentration of DOD civilian jobs in the Midwest
- Defense contractors: Massive contractor presence — Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, SAIC, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, and dozens of small businesses supporting USTRANSCOM and AMC IT, logistics, and operations; cleared positions abundant
- Healthcare: BJC HealthCare (St. Louis region's largest employer) — Barnes-Jewish Hospital, multiple facilities in St. Louis and metro-east; SSM Health and HSHS St. Elizabeth's (O'Fallon); nursing and allied health consistently in high demand
- Scott AFB civilian positions: The base employs over 5,000 DOD civilians — the density of GS/GG positions is unmatched outside the Pentagon; logistics, IT, program management, contracting, and intelligence
- St. Louis corporate: Boeing Defense (St. Louis), Emerson Electric, Enterprise Holdings, Anheuser-Busch, and dozens of Fortune 500 companies; 25-40 min commute from metro-east suburbs
- Remote work: Strong position for remote work — Central time zone works for East and West coast roles; excellent internet infrastructure; proximity to St. Louis Lambert International Airport (30 min) for periodic office visits
Local Attractions
- Gateway Arch National Park (downtown St. Louis, 25 min) — America's tallest monument at 630 feet; tram ride to the top for panoramic Mississippi River and city views; the Museum at the Gateway Arch is newly renovated and world-class; free for military with America the Beautiful pass
- St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium (downtown, 25 min) — One of baseball's most beloved franchises in a stunning ballpark with downtown skyline views; Ballpark Village with dining and entertainment next door; military discounts available; St. Louis is a baseball town through and through
- St. Louis Zoo (Forest Park, 30 min) — Consistently ranked among the top zoos in America; FREE admission (one of the few remaining free major zoos); 90 acres with 18,000+ animals; the new Primate Canopy Trails and Polar Bear Point are outstanding
- Forest Park (St. Louis, 30 min) — At 1,300 acres, larger than Central Park; home to the Zoo, Art Museum, History Museum, Science Center, and the Muny (America's oldest outdoor musical theater); all free admission except the Muny; a world-class urban park
- City Museum (downtown St. Louis, 25 min) — A fever dream of salvaged architectural wonders turned into a 10-story climbable, slidable, explorable art installation; caves, a school bus on the roof, a giant indoor treehouse, and a decade of joy for kids and adults alike
- Metro-east gems: Eckert's Country Store and Farms (Belleville, seasonal U-pick fruit, cider, and family festivals — an institution); National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville, beautiful grounds and the Way of Lights Christmas display); Art on the Square (Belleville, May, nationally ranked fine arts festival)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Aerial view of Scott AFB — headquarters of Air Mobility Command and USTRANSCOM
base
Air Mobility Command headquarters — orchestrating global airlift, refueling, and aeromedical evacuation
base
C-9 Nightingale aeromedical evacuation aircraft — Scott's historic patient transport mission
downtown
The St. Louis region — Gateway Arch, Forest Park, and a vibrant Midwest metro 25 minutes away
neighborhood
Metro-east Illinois suburbs — O'Fallon and Shiloh offer top-rated schools and family communities
housing
On-base housing at Scott — mature trees and traditional Midwestern neighborhoods