Scott Air Force Base Housing Guide
📍 Belleville, Illinois
Tips for Military Families
- Start your housing search early — on-base waitlists can be 6–12 months at popular bases.
- Check current BAH rates on the DTMO calculator before setting your housing budget — rates change annually.
- Join local military spouse Facebook groups for unfiltered rental reviews and landlord recommendations from families who've been there.
Everything you need to know about on-base and off-base housing options near Scott Air Force Base. We cover BAH rates, popular neighborhoods for military families stationed in Belleville, Illinois, commute times, and what to expect from base housing communities.
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)
Key Resources for Housing
Trusted external resources for military families researching housing near Scott Air Force Base.