Where to live

Where to live near Edwards AFB

6 towns within about an hour of the main post area: drive time, rent, home values and the school district for each.

Town centers and the main post area. Dot size is population.

Quick answers

ClosestRosamond39 min drive

Biggest nearbyLancaster169,169 people

Lowest median rentMojave$1,214 a month

Most E-5 BAH left overCalifornia City$1,575 over a 2-bedroom

6 towns, closest first

Towns around Edwards AFB

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($2,658) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

Rosamond, CA

39 min drive · 21.3 road mi

Median rent: $1,498
2 bedrooms: $1,444
3 bedrooms: $1,698
Home value: $352,600
People: 21,473
Homes rented: 23%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,214 a month

Southern Kern Unified School District: 6 schools, 3,683 students, 20.3 students per teacher. District facts

California City, CA

48 min drive · 24 road mi

Median rent: $1,300
2 bedrooms: $1,083
3 bedrooms: $1,819
Home value: $278,000
People: 14,414
Homes rented: 45%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,575 a month

Mojave Unified School District: 6 schools, 2,842 students, 24.1 students per teacher. District facts

Lancaster, CA

48 min drive · 31.3 road mi

Median rent: $1,764
2 bedrooms: $1,678
3 bedrooms: $1,903
Home value: $446,600
People: 169,169
Homes rented: 40%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$980 a month

Lancaster Elementary School District (high school: Antelope Valley Union Joint High School District): 24 schools, 13,832 students, 24.4 students per teacher. District facts

Mojave, CA

55 min drive · 31.3 road mi

Median rent: $1,214
2 bedrooms: $1,163
3 bedrooms: $1,244
Home value: $213,600
People: 5,173
Homes rented: 62%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,495 a month

Mojave Unified School District: 6 schools, 2,842 students, 24.1 students per teacher. District facts

Quartz Hill, CA

57 min drive · 36.4 road mi

Median rent: $1,540
2 bedrooms: $1,574
3 bedrooms: $2,308
Home value: $485,300
People: 11,510
Homes rented: 29%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,084 a month

Westside Union Elementary School District (high school: Antelope Valley Union Joint High School District): 12 schools, 9,138 students, 25.8 students per teacher. District facts

Boron, CA

59 min drive · 23.9 road mi

Median rent: $1,219
2 bedrooms: $1,223
3 bedrooms: $1,326
Home value: $148,600
People: 2,698
Homes rented: 55%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$1,435 a month

Muroc Joint Unified School District: 6 schools, 1,802 students, 18.6 students per teacher. District facts

Where these numbers come from

Towns: every town, city and census place of 1,000 or more people within about an hour's drive, from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Drive time: from each town's center to the main post area on OpenStreetMap roads, without traffic, so rush hour runs longer.
Rent, home value, renters: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 medians. They include long-time renters and utilities, so new leases usually cost more. Use them to compare towns, and the HUD rent on the BAH page for today's level.
Schools: the public district that covers each town's center, with size from the NCES Common Core of Data (2023-24). Confirm the school for a specific address with the district.

Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.

Edwards AFB base guide Edwards AFB BAH Other bases

FAQ

Living near Edwards AFB

What is the closest town to Edwards Air Force Base?

Rosamond, CA is about 39 minutes from the main post area (21.3 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near Edwards Air Force Base?

Lancaster, CA, with about 169,169 people, 48 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near Edwards Air Force Base has the lowest rent?

Mojave, CA, where the Census median rent is $1,214 a month (rent plus utilities, 2020-2024 average). New leases usually cost more than the median, so check current listings too.

Does BAH cover rent near Edwards Air Force Base?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $2,658 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 6 of the 6 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in California City, CA.

What school district serves Rosamond?

Southern Kern Unified School District, with 6 schools and 3,683 students (20.3 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.