Lackland Air Force Base (Joint Base San Antonio)
Your orders say Lackland AFB. And you are excited to be moving near the seventh-most populated city in the United States, San Antonio! This southwestern corner of an urban region known as the Texas Triangle is comprised of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
Lackland AFB is home to the Air Force Cyber Command and Basic Military Training and is one of several military installations housed under the name Joint Base San Antonio. Nearby Randolph AFB is headquarters for Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Personnel Center, and Pilot Instructor Training. Fort Sam Houston is home to the command headquarters of the United States Army North, the United States Army South, the Army Medical Command headquarters and the Navy Regional Recruiting. It is commonly referred to as the “Home of Army Medicine.”
Off-Base Neighborhoods
The overall median home cost in the Joint Base San Antonio area is $172,400, making it a very attractive place to buy. Developing areas such as Alamo Ranch and Stone Oak are rising in popularity. But older neighborhoods in surrounding towns like Cibolo, Schertz, or Universal City have a lot to offer at very reasonable prices.
On Base Housing
Lackland Family Housing offers move-in ready two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in both single-family and townhome styles in seven different neighborhoods. Balfour Beatty Communities owns the family housing and is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and managing the community.
Schools
Military students living in the Joint Base San Antonio area could attend several different school districts, depending on where they live. Military families living on base at Lackland AFB can send children to the base elementary school, junior high, or high school, which are part of the Lackland Independent School district.
Cost of Living and BAH
The median home cost in the San Antonio area is $172, 400 making it a very attractive place to buy. Developing areas such as Alamo Ranch or Stone Oak are rising in popularity but older neighborhoods in surrounding towns like Cibolo, Schertz, or Universal City have a lot to offer at very reasonable prices. The cost of living in San Antonio is 14% lower than the national average with a family of 4 costing roughly $72,000 a year to support.
Lackland AFB BAH varies depending on rank and whether or not you have dependents. To determine your BAH at Lackland AFB, use our BAH calculator.
Housing Costs
The median home price in the area around Lackland is $215,500. Home appreciation is up 36% over the last five years. Military families reviewing off base neighborhoods in the area recommend those looking to rent or buy start their search about 30 minutes away from base. The San Antonio urban area ranked 33rd in the nation for time wasted during peak commute times. The good news is when there are major delays, drivers have decent alternative routes compared with other cities.
Weather
You can expect mild winters and extremely hot summers in this part of Texas. While tornadoes and wildfires are rare, the biggest threat of severe weather in Alamo City is flooding. When it rains hard in San Antonio downtown and several other areas are known to flood, making commutes treacherous. The coldest month is January with an overnight average temperature of 38°F. The highest temps occur in August with daily temperatures into the 100’s.
Base Amenities
Lackland AFB has a large Commissary on Foulois Street. The Lackland Base Exchange (BX) is on Reese St. It offers a large variety of retail items including furniture and appliances. There are also several shops and a sizable food court. Wilford Hall is the Lackland AFB medical center. It is large, relatively new, and has an Urgent Care center. The Warhawk Fitness Center features both cardio equipment and weights and a nice outdoor track. Additionally, it offers group classes such as Zumba, Martial Arts, and even personal training. The Reel Time Theater shows movies at affordable family rates.
Area Attractions
Local attractions to Lackland AFB include Sea World and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks. The five-time NBA champion San Antonio Spurs also call San Antonio home. The mild San Antonio climate allows for diverse outdoor activities year-round. Open spaces provide ample opportunities for bicycle riding, hiking, and canoeing. Other popular locations include: The Riverwalk, the Alamo, Missions National Historic Park, Brackenridge Park, San Pedro Spring Park, and Phil Hardberger Park. Every spring, Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day event.
The San Antonio Rodeo has events all year long. The Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) and kicks off in February. In addition to the rodeo, there is Brickfest LIVE! – a LEGO Fan Experience built to inspire, educate, and entertain with LEGO bricks. The Ultimate BMX Stunt Show Experience is an exciting show featuring one of the Best BMX Stunt Show Teams in the Nation! Brad’s World Reptiles includes some of the most beautiful and exotic animals in the world!
San Antonio’s most famous attraction, the Alamo, is the home of the famous 1836 battle. It becomes a living history with special demonstrations and events all year long. This beautiful 300-year-old former Spanish mission turned fortress is open year-round and is free to everyone. Missions National Historical Park is a chain of four Spanish colonial missions—Concepción, San José, San Juan, and Espada. It features eight miles of paved cycling and walking path. Canoes and kayaks can be paddled along sections of the Mission Reach. The visitor center is located at Mission San José.
San Antonio is home to some fabulous art and history museums. The McNay Art Museum is housed in a 1920’s mansion and offers American and European art from medieval to contemporary. It also has beautiful grounds and a huge event every second Thursday all summer long. The San Antonio Museum of art houses international collections, ancient art, and a contemporary gallery. For the kids, there is the Witte Museum, dedicated to Texas history, prehistoric to modern, and featuring the H-E-B Science Treehouse. There is also the excellent new children’s museum the Dosuem. The Dosuem can easily be an all-day adventure, teaching kids about art and science through interactive exhibits and activities.
Have a toddler or preschooler? Make sure to check out the local chapter of Tiny Troops Soccer to help your little one PCS with fun, soccer, and friends!
Food and Drink
San Antonio is foodie heaven. Home to some of the best Mexican food and Tex-Mex in the United States, locals consider themselves experts on Mexican fare, especially the taco. In San Antonio, there are three times eating tacos is not only acceptable but celebrated; breakfast, lunch, and dinner. San Antonio is the home of the breakfast taco, available all over town at different price points. For the best tacos head to the west side or the south side. Austin has claimed to have the best breakfast tacos but San Antonians say they are wrong.
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