Goodfellow AFB BAH Rates & Housing Guide

A permanent change of station (PCS) to west-central Texas brings unique advantages, from a welcoming local community to a relatively low cost of living. Whether you are arriving as permanent party staff with the 17th Training Wing or reporting for advanced intelligence or fire protection training, understanding your goodfellow afb bah is one of the most critical steps in securing comfortable, affordable housing for you and your family.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is designed to offset the cost of civilian housing when government quarters are unavailable. In San Angelo, Texas, your allowance reflects local rental costs and utility rates. This guide details how BAH works at Goodfellow AFB, outlines expected rate tiers, compares on-base and off-base living, and provides actionable tips to help you make the best housing decision.

Understanding Goodfellow AFB BAH Rates and Eligibility

Goodfellow Air Force Base falls under Military Housing Area (MHA) TX307 (San Angelo, TX). The Department of Defense (DoD) calculates BAH rates for this area annually by evaluating median market rents, local utility averages (electricity, gas, water, and sewer), and renter's insurance costs for various housing profiles.

Three primary criteria determine your individual BAH rate:

• Pay Grade: Rates scale progressively from junior enlisted personnel (E-1) up through senior commissioned officers.
• Dependency Status: Service members with at least one qualified dependent (spouse or child) receive a higher rate designed to support larger living arrangements.
• Duty Station Location: BAH is tied directly to your assigned duty location (San Angelo, TX), regardless of where you ultimately sign a lease.

Because BAH is non-taxable income, its effective purchasing power is significantly higher than an equivalent amount of base pay. For many service members stationed in Tom Green County, this allowance comfortably covers rent and essential utilities if managed prudently.

Representative BAH Ranges for San Angelo, TX

While the DoD updates exact figures every calendar year on January 1, San Angelo generally tracks as a moderate-cost housing market. Below is an overview of what typical allowance bands look like across representative ranks for the San Angelo MHA:

Enlisted Personnel

• E-1 to E-4: Ranges roughly from $1,050 to $1,250 without dependents, and $1,350 to $1,550 with dependents.
• E-5 to E-6: Typically falls between $1,200 and $1,400 without dependents, and $1,500 to $1,750 with dependents.
• E-7 to E-9: Ranges from $1,350 to $1,650 without dependents, and $1,700 to $2,050 with dependents.

Warrant and Commissioned Officers

• O-1 to O-2: Averages approximately $1,250 to $1,450 without dependents, and $1,550 to $1,800 with dependents.
• O-3 to O-4: Typically spans $1,500 to $1,750 without dependents, and $1,800 to $2,150 with dependents.
• O-5 and Above: Generally ranges from $1,650 to $1,900+ without dependents, and $2,000 to $2,350+ with dependents.

Note: Individual rates are subject to individual grandfathering clauses. Under DoD individual rate protection rules, if the BAH rates for San Angelo drop while you are stationed at Goodfellow, your entitlement will not decrease as long as you maintain uninterrupted eligibility at your rank.

Living On Base: Goodfellow Family Housing

On-base family housing at Goodfellow is privatized and managed by Hunt Military Communities. Choosing to live on base comes with distinct operational and lifestyle considerations.

The Financial Trade-Off

When you lease a home through Hunt Military Communities, your full monthly BAH allotment is typically deducted directly via military allotment to cover rent, standard trash services, and an average utility baseline. This eliminates the hassle of paying separate rental deposits or managing monthly electric bills, providing predictable monthly budgeting.

Neighborhood Perks

Goodfellow Family Housing neighborhoods feature amenities tailored to military families, including community centers, playgrounds, dog parks, and athletic courts. The most significant benefit is proximity: your commute to flight line training areas, the clinic, the commissary, or the base exchange (BX) is five minutes or less, virtually eliminating commute stress and fuel costs.

Renting Off Base in San Angelo

If you prefer to live off base, San Angelo offers diverse residential pockets. The city has a population of roughly 100,000 and surrounds the base to the north and west. Because traffic is generally light, most off-base neighborhoods sit within a 10- to 20-minute drive from the main gate.

Popular Off-Base Neighborhoods

• College Hills: Located near Angelo State University, this area is mature, centrally located, and packed with mid-century single-family homes and duplexes. It is popular with both junior officers and enlisted personnel.
• The Bluffs / Bentwood: Situated on the southwest side of San Angelo, these neighborhoods feature newer builds, larger floor plans, and golf course access. Rental prices here are higher, usually aligning best with senior enlisted and officer BAH tiers.
• Santa Rita: One of San Angelo’s historic neighborhoods, known for tree-lined streets and architectural character. Rental turnover here can be competitive.
• Lake Nasworthy Area: Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who want easy access to boating, fishing, and parks. Rental styles vary widely from older cabins to updated lakeside houses.

Key Housing Considerations in West Texas

When calculating whether a civilian rental fits inside your BAH budget, keep these regional realities in mind:

1. Summer Electric Bills

Summers in San Angelo regularly exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Air conditioning units work overtime between June and September. An energy-inefficient rental house can easily generate electric bills exceeding $350 to $450 per month. Always ask landlords about insulation quality, double-pane windows, and recent average utility costs before signing a lease.

2. Water Hardness

San Angelo municipal water is notoriously hard. Many off-base renters invest in water softening services or reverse-osmosis filtration systems for drinking water, which represents an extra monthly expense.

3. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Stays

Goodfellow trains thousands of students annually across fire protection and intelligence specialties. If you are on TDY-en-route or attending a course shorter than normal PCS cycles, specialized military-friendly apartments offering flexible or 6-month leases are standard, though they may charge a small premium on monthly rent.

How to Protect Your Housing Rights

Before executing any off-base lease, ensure the contract contains a clear Military Clause complying with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This provision guarantees your right to terminate the lease early without severe financial penalty if you receive PCS orders or deployment taskings exceeding 90 days.

Additionally, always check in with the Goodfellow AFB Military Housing Office (MHO) before entering a binding agreement. The MHO provides lease review services, maintains an up-to-date off-limits housing list, and can assist in mediating disputes with civilian property managers.

Final Thoughts

Your Goodfellow AFB BAH gives you the financial leverage to find an arrangement that matches your lifestyle—whether that means the convenience of on-base community living or the independence of a quiet neighborhood in San Angelo. By accounting for summer cooling costs, verifying lease terms, and aligning your rent with published BAH tiers, you can make your assignment to west Texas both comfortable and financially rewarding.