Ohio
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
📍 Dayton, Ohio
Headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson drives Air Force innovation and logistics near Dayton.
BAH Rates
MHA: OH008 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,317/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,530/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,185/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,929/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,521/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Prairies at Wright Field (Hunt Military Communities) — mix of historic and newer homes, plus townhome options; generally shorter waitlists than high-demand coastal bases
- Off-base: Beavercreek, Fairborn, and Centerville — median single-family homes in the $250k-$400k range, among the most affordable near any major AF base
- BAH: Dayton BAH is moderate but housing costs are low enough that it comfortably covers good neighborhoods with money left over
- Top pick: Beavercreek — top-rated schools, safe neighborhoods, 10-20 min commute, and strong military community presence
- Note: Some on-base housing dates to the 1930s-50s; Hunt has renovated many units, but tour before committing
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Beavercreek — Top family pick, consistently rated safest suburb in Ohio, excellent schools, 10-20 min commute, extensive shopping at The Greene and Fairfield Commons
- Centerville/Washington Township — Highly rated schools, strong sense of community, 25-30 min commute, more established homes with character
- Fairborn — Closest to base (5-10 min), most affordable, mix of older and newer subdivisions; schools are decent but not top-tier in the region
- Oakwood — Upscale historic suburb near University of Dayton, elite schools, high property values, 20-25 min commute; best for O-4+ and GS-13+
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Fairborn Primary School⭐ 5/10
Close to base, K-2
Valley Elementary⭐ 6/10
Beavercreek, strong rating
Parkwood Elementary⭐ 7/10
Beavercreek, excellent reputation
🏫 Middle Schools
Baker Middle School⭐ 5/10
Fairborn, close to base
Ferguson Middle School⭐ 7/10
Beavercreek, strong academics
Ankeney Middle School⭐ 7/10
Beavercreek, top-rated
🏫 High Schools
Fairborn High School⭐ 5/10
Closest to base, diverse
Beavercreek High School⭐ 8/10
Top-rated in area, strong college prep
Centerville High School⭐ 8/10
Highly rated, competitive
Gates & Commute
- Gate 12A (Colonel Glenn Hwy) — Busiest gate, serves Beavercreek/Fairborn traffic, 10-15 min peak waits (7:00-8:30 AM)
- Gate 15A (National Rd) — Serves Dayton/Riverside commuters, 5-10 min peak
- Gate 26A (Springfield Pike) — Western access near the National Museum of the USAF, convenient for Oakwood/Centerville commuters
- Note: Base is split by Route 444/Huffman Dam — Area A (administrative/AFMC) and Area B (flight line/AFRL); know which area you need before choosing a gate
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Dominant cable provider across Dayton metro, plans up to 1 Gbps, nearly universal availability
- AT&T Fiber — Expanding in Beavercreek, Centerville, and Oakwood; symmetrical gigabit speeds
- MetroNet — Regional fiber provider building out aggressively in the Dayton suburbs; 1 Gbps symmetrical, strong customer satisfaction
- T-Mobile/Verizon 5G Home — Fixed wireless available, decent for lighter use
- Top pick: MetroNet or AT&T Fiber where available; Spectrum as fallback
Shopping & Dining
- The Greene (Beavercreek) — Upscale outdoor lifestyle center with shops, restaurants, cinema, and summer concert series; the area's premier destination
- Fairfield Commons Mall (Beavercreek) — Major regional mall with Macy's, JCPenney, and family dining
- Groceries: Kroger (dominant), Meijer, Costco, Whole Foods, Dorothy Lane Market (Dayton's beloved upscale grocer), and the on-base commissary
- Dining: The Pine Club (legendary Dayton steakhouse), Marion's Piazza (a local thin-crust pizza institution since 1965), and Oregon District for craft breweries and nightlife
- Dayton's Oregon District — Historic neighborhood with bars, restaurants, and live music; the city's cultural heart
Gyms & Recreation
- Wright-Patt Fitness Center — Multiple gyms across Area A and Area B with weight rooms, cardio, indoor tracks, and group classes
- Outdoor Recreation — Rents camping and outdoor gear; runs trips to Hocking Hills, Kings Island, and Great Lakes destinations
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Prairie Trace and Twin Base), multiple sports fields, and a rod & gun club
- Five Rivers MetroParks — Exceptional regional park system with hiking, biking, kayaking, and year-round programming; 30+ parks across Montgomery County
- Bike trails: Little Miami Scenic Trail and the nation's largest network of paved multi-use trails — over 340 miles connect the region
- Kings Island (45 min south) — Major amusement park with world-class roller coasters, Soak City water park
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: Massive civilian workforce — USAJobs listings include AFMC, AFRL, NASIC, and AFLCMC; GS and contractor positions in engineering, IT, acquisition, and science
- Defense contractors: BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, L3Harris, Leidos — all maintain large Dayton-area offices supporting the acquisition mission
- Healthcare: Premier Health (Miami Valley Hospital), Kettering Health Network, and Dayton Children's Hospital
- Education: Wright State University, University of Dayton, and numerous K-12 school districts
- Remote work: Affordable cost of living makes remote work go far; growing tech scene with the Downtown Dayton Tech Hub initiative
- Spouse employment: Airman & Family Readiness Center holds regular job fairs; strong defense contracting presence means spouses with clearances find work quickly
Local Attractions
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force — World's largest and oldest military aviation museum, free admission, on-base (Area B side); iconic destination with 350+ aircraft
- Hocking Hills State Park (1.5 hrs east) — Stunning hiking with waterfalls, caves, and rock formations; Ohio's premier natural attraction
- Cincinnati (1 hr south) — Cincinnati Zoo, Over-the-Rhine dining district, FC Cincinnati (MLS), Kings Island
- Columbus (1 hr east) — Ohio State University, Short North Arts District, Columbus Zoo, professional sports (Blue Jackets NHL, Crew MLS)
- Dayton aviation heritage — Huffman Prairie (where the Wright brothers perfected flight), Wright Cycle Company, and the Aviation Trail; Dayton is the birthplace of aviation
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson
neighborhood
Family-friendly Beavercreek neighborhood near WPAFB
housing
The Prairies at Wright Field on-base housing
nature
Hocking Hills State Park, 90 minutes from Dayton
downtown
The Greene outdoor shopping center in Beavercreek
restaurant
Marion's Piazza — a Dayton pizza institution since 1965