PCSing to Lackland AFB?Where to Live Near the Gates
Home of Air Force and Space Force basic training on San Antonio's southwest side. Leon Valley, King William and Alamo Ranch each sit within about 11 driving miles of a gate.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveQuestions about Lackland? Call me at (919) 800-9870
JBSA-Lackland is the Air Force base on San Antonio's southwest side where all Air Force and Space Force basic military training happens. It also hosts the 59th Medical Wing, Security Forces training and a large group of intelligence and cyber units. The Luke East and Valley Hi gates are open 24/7. Leon Valley is about 9 driving miles from a gate, King William and Southtown about 10, and Alamo Ranch about 11. For 2026, Lackland BAH runs from $1,359 to $2,112 a month without dependents and $1,728 to $2,490 with them, by pay grade.
Key Takeaways
- The 37th Training Wing, called the "Gateway to the Air Force," is the largest training wing in the Air Force. Its permanent staff of about 2,500 trains about 66,000 students a year.
- The 737th Training Group runs the 7.5-week basic military training course for every new Air Force Airman and Space Force Guardian.
- More than 24,000 active-duty members and about 10,000 civilian employees work at JBSA-Lackland, and its English language center teaches students from 159 partner nations.
- JBSA lists the Luke East, Valley Hi and McMullen gates as open 24/7 and keeps all three on normal hours on federal holidays. The Selfridge gates run limited weekday hours.
- Lackland ISD runs Lackland Elementary and Virginia Allred Stacey Junior-Senior High School for children living on base. Off-base students can apply for a transfer each year.
- Lackland's ZIP code (78236) falls in the San Antonio military housing area. Its 2026 BAH table, set by pay grade and dependency status, is on this page, and rates change every January.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: 37th Training Wing | Military OneSource | JBSA Gate Hours | DTMO BAH
I've Been Where You Are.
Orders give you a city and a date, and very little else. I'm an Army wife, and every move started the same way for me: a map of a place I didn't know and a few weeks to decide where to live.
I'm Tiffany Reed, a REALTOR® and Military Relocation Professional (MRP) based in San Antonio. Whether this is your first assignment or your fifth, a Lackland search with me starts with three things: which gate you'll drive to, what monthly payment you're comfortable with, and when you report. From there I set up tours, in person or on video.
Call me as soon as your orders are in hand. More lead time means more homes to see before you have to choose.
Let's Talk About Your Next MoveWhat Is JBSA-Lackland AFB and Who Reports There?
Lackland sits on San Antonio's southwest side. Construction started on June 15, 1941, on land that had been part of Kelly Field, and the base took its current name, after Brig. Gen. Frank Lackland, in 1948. It's now one of the three main locations of Joint Base San Antonio.
- 37th Training Wing, the Air Force's largest training wing
- Basic Military Training (737th Training Group), for every new Airman and Guardian
- Security Forces Academy (343rd Training Squadron), the first training stop for Air Force security forces
- 59th Medical Wing, including Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center
- Intelligence and cyber units, plus the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing
- Defense Language Institute English Language Center, with students from 159 partner nations
These are the gate hours JBSA posts for Lackland:
| Gate | Hours (per JBSA) | Getting there |
|---|---|---|
| Luke East Gate | 24/7 | Off Military Drive (Loop 13); about 10 miles from King William via US-90 |
| Valley Hi Gate | 24/7 | Valley Hi Drive, off Loop 410 |
| McMullen Gate | 24/7 | On the Kelly Field side of the base |
| Selfridge East and West Gates | Limited weekday hours; closed on federal holidays | Check before you plan a route around them |
For Fort Sam Houston, Randolph and Camp Bullis too, see my military relocation to San Antonio page.
How Much Is BAH at JBSA-Lackland in 2026?
Lackland's ZIP code (78236) maps to the San Antonio military housing area, and the table below lists its 2026 monthly rates by pay grade, with and without dependents. Rates are reset every January, so a search that runs into the new year needs a second look.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-2 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-3 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-4 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-5 | $1,869 | $1,500 |
| E-6 | $2,094 | $1,596 |
| E-7 | $2,112 | $1,731 |
| E-8 | $2,121 | $1,920 |
| E-9 | $2,157 | $1,977 |
| W-1 | $2,109 | $1,692 |
| W-2 | $2,118 | $1,917 |
| W-3 | $2,130 | $1,986 |
| W-4 | $2,178 | $2,085 |
| W-5 | $2,280 | $2,097 |
| O-1E | $2,115 | $1,866 |
| O-2E | $2,124 | $1,965 |
| O-3E | $2,196 | $2,082 |
| O-1 | $1,905 | $1,584 |
| O-2 | $2,091 | $1,827 |
| O-3 | $2,127 | $2,007 |
| O-4 | $2,307 | $2,088 |
| O-5 | $2,457 | $2,100 |
| O-6 | $2,475 | $2,103 |
| O-7 | $2,490 | $2,112 |
Where Should I Live Near Lackland AFB? Neighborhoods by Distance
Leon Valley
2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $229,768
An independent city of 3.5 square miles on Bandera Road, between Loop 410 and Loop 1604, with its own police and fire departments. About 73% of the houses were built before 1980, so the ages of the roof, HVAC and water heater matter here, and I check them before you tour. The route to Lackland skips downtown.
King William & Southtown
2026 combined tax rate: $2.51 per $100
Historic districts along the San Antonio River just south of downtown. The oldest King William houses date from the 1860s and 1870s, and any exterior change needs the city's historic approval. Lackland's Luke East Gate is about 10 miles west, and Fort Sam is about 4.5 to 5.5 miles north.
Alamo Ranch
2026 combined tax rate inside the city: $2.36 per $100
A large master-planned area around Alamo Ranch Parkway near Loop 1604 and Culebra Road, with homes from many builders and phases and new construction still going up. Some streets are in San Antonio and some in unincorporated Bexar County, which changes the tax bill. If you're buying new, read how I handle new construction first.
Mahncke Park & Terrell Hills
Terrell Hills 2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $1,069,779
Close-in neighborhoods beside Fort Sam Houston, for a household with one drive to Lackland and another to Fort Sam. Mahncke Park has the San Antonio Botanical Garden and the Witte Museum inside its borders; Terrell Hills is a separate city with homes mostly from the 1930s through the 1960s.
Helotes
2026 avg. homestead taxable value: $512,208
A small city on Bandera Road where the Hill Country begins, with canyon views and mature oaks. About a third of the homes inside city limits sit on an acre or more, and most went up after 1990. Many nearby Helotes mailing addresses, such as Sonoma Ranch, are outside the city limits. Camp Bullis is about 10 miles away.
Miles are approximate driving distances to the closest Lackland gate. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding. Taxable values are 2026 city averages for homesteads, not list prices; current prices are on the homes for sale search on my site. Neighborhood guides: Leon Valley, King William, Southtown, Alamo Ranch, Helotes, Mahncke Park, Terrell Hills. Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: city 2026 tax notices, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector, U.S. Census Bureau.
Should You Buy or Rent When You PCS to Lackland AFB?
Start with whether you'd keep the house as a rental when you leave. Holding onto it means you don't have to sell on the military's timeline, and any entitlement you have left can still back a VA loan at your next station. Eligible VA buyers with full entitlement need no down payment and pay no private mortgage insurance, but you'll still budget for closing costs, an inspection and the move. If your orders are short or the length isn't clear yet, renting first is a reasonable way to learn the west side before you commit.
Which School Districts Serve Lackland AFB?
Lackland ISD runs the schools on base: Lackland Elementary and Virginia Allred Stacey Junior-Senior High School. It's an independent Texas school district under the Texas Education Agency, not part of the DoD school system. Children who live on base have an automatic right to attend; students living off base can request a non-resident transfer, approved based on space and renewed every year.
Off base, Northside ISD covers Leon Valley, Helotes and Alamo Ranch, with 97,597 students in 133 schools. San Antonio ISD, with more than 42,000 students on 83 campuses, serves King William, Southtown and Mahncke Park. With a district that size, the campus matters more than the district name, so confirm the elementary, middle and high school for the specific address. If you're enrolled in EFMP or your child has an IEP or 504 plan, contact the district's special education office before you arrive, and ask the JBSA School Liaison Office for its welcome packet.
The Texas Education Agency posts accountability ratings and campus data at tea.texas.gov. Look up each campus there once the district confirms it.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: Military OneSource, Texas Education Agency, each district.What Should I Know About a VA Loan Near Lackland AFB?
I've used the VA loan benefit personally, and I work with VA loan buyers on every side of San Antonio. I can connect you with lenders who handle VA loans, and your lender requests the Certificate of Eligibility, not you. When you find the house, I write the offer and negotiate it.
- Eligible buyers with full entitlement can put zero down
- VA loans don't require private mortgage insurance
- Veterans receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability are exempt from the VA funding fee; confirm with your lender
- Texas offers property tax exemptions for disabled veterans, starting with a partial exemption at a 10% rating and reaching a full homestead exemption at 100%
- You can use the VA home loan benefit more than once
My VA loans in San Antonio page covers eligibility, the funding fee and assumable VA loans. A VA-approved lender confirms what applies to you.
Data current as of October 2026 · Sources: VA.gov, Texas Comptroller.Lackland AFB PCS Questions
What kinds of units are at Lackland AFB?
Lackland hosts Air Force and Space Force basic military training, the Security Forces Academy, the 37th Training Wing's technical training, the 59th Medical Wing with Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, intelligence and cyber units, and the Defense Language Institute English Language Center.
What neighborhoods are closest to Lackland AFB?
Among the areas with neighborhood guides on my site, Leon Valley is closest at about 9 driving miles, then King William and Southtown at about 10 and Alamo Ranch at about 11. Helotes is about 17. Drive times vary by time of day, traffic, and gate. Check current conditions for your route before deciding.
Which Lackland gates are open 24 hours?
JBSA lists the Luke East, Valley Hi and McMullen gates as open 24/7, including federal holidays. The Selfridge gates have limited weekday hours. Check JBSA's Lackland gate page for current hours.
What is the 2026 BAH rate at Lackland AFB?
Lackland is in the San Antonio military housing area. For 2026, E-1 through E-4 receive $1,728 a month with dependents and $1,359 without, E-5 receives $1,869 and $1,500, and the top rate is $2,490 with dependents for O-7 and above. Every grade is in the table on this page, and you can confirm yours at the DTMO BAH lookup.
Should I buy or rent when PCSing to Lackland?
Ask yourself whether you'd rent the house out at your next PCS, because keeping it leaves your options open and leftover entitlement can still go toward a VA loan at your next base. A VA loan means no down payment for eligible buyers with full entitlement, while renting first is a reasonable choice if your timeline is short or unclear. Send me what you know about your orders and I'll go over both with you.
What school district serves Lackland AFB?
Lackland ISD serves children who live on base. Off base, most nearby west-side neighborhoods are in Northside ISD, and the areas south of downtown are in San Antonio ISD. Confirm the campus for the address, then check it at tea.texas.gov.
Can I buy a home near Lackland from across the country or OCONUS?
Yes, and some of my clients have moved in on the same day they arrived in town. I show you homes on video, write and negotiate your offer, coordinate inspections as needed and do the final walkthrough.
Ready to Find Your Home Near Lackland?
Send me your report date, your budget and the gate you expect to use. I'll line up showings, in person or by video, and write your offer when the right house turns up.
Tiffany Reed, REALTOR® | MRP | Real Broker LLC
(919) 800-9870 | tiffany@tiffanyreedtx.com | tiffanyreedtx.com