Arizona is a prime destination for active-duty military personnel and veterans. With its many military bases, tax-free military pay, outdoor recreation opportunities, and military-friendly communities, Arizona provides a welcoming environment for military families.
If you're PCSing to Arizona, this guide will help you prepare for your transition, covering everything from housing and schools to cost of living and military-friendly communities.
Military Bases in Arizona
Arizona is home to several major military installations:
- Fort Huachuca (Army)
- Luke Air Force Base (Air Force)
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Air Force)
- Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (Marine Corps)
Each base has its own mission and community. Researching your assigned base before arrival will help ease your transition. Visit Military OneSource for base-specific details.
Arizona's Major Military Installations
Knowing your base's mission helps you picture daily life, commute times, and which towns sit nearby. Here is a closer look at each of Arizona's four major installations.
Luke Air Force Base (Glendale)
Luke Air Force Base sits in Glendale, in the West Valley of metro Phoenix. It is home to the 56th Fighter Wing, which now trains pilots exclusively on the F-35A Lightning II after decades of F-16 training. The Air Force describes Luke as the service's F-35 training center, with several training squadrons based there. Families assigned to Luke often look at Glendale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, and Surprise. Learn more on the Luke Air Force Base website.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (Tucson)
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base sits about 5 miles southeast of downtown Tucson. Its host unit is the 355th Wing, which flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II for close air support and runs the Air Force's combat search and rescue training. Units there operate HC-130J aircraft and HH-60 rescue helicopters. Nearby communities include Tucson, Marana, and Vail. See the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base website for more.
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is in the state's southwest corner near the California and Mexico borders. The station supports roughly 80 percent of the Marine Corps' air-to-ground aviation training, using more than a million acres of ranges and steady flying weather. It is a key base for the F-35B, the short-takeoff, vertical-landing version of the F-35. Marine families usually settle in Yuma and the surrounding Yuma County area. Read more at the MCAS Yuma website.
Fort Huachuca (Sierra Vista)
Fort Huachuca is an Army post in Cochise County, near Sierra Vista in southeast Arizona, about 15 miles from the Mexico border. It hosts the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and focuses on military intelligence, cyber, and unmanned aircraft systems training. Most families live in Sierra Vista, which grew up around the post. Visit the Fort Huachuca garrison website to learn more.
Housing Markets and Cost of Living
Home prices in Arizona's two largest metro areas give you a baseline for budgeting. According to Zillow, the typical home value in Phoenix was about $411,563 as of May 31, 2026, down 2.3 percent over the prior year. This is a typical value across the middle of the market, not a median sale price. You can review the latest figures on the Zillow Phoenix home values page.
Tucson tends to run lower. Zillow reported a typical Tucson home value of about $326,242 as of May 31, 2026, down 2.1 percent over the year. Again, this is a typical value, not a median sale price. The current number lives on the Zillow Tucson home values page.
Your Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, the monthly housing stipend the military pays based on your rank, location, and whether you have dependents, will shape what you can afford. For 2026, BAH rates rose by an average of 4.2 percent across the country and took effect January 1, 2026. Always check your own duty station, since rates differ a great deal between Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, and Sierra Vista. Look up your exact rate on the Defense Travel Management Office BAH page.
Tax-Free Military Pay in Arizona
Arizona is one of the few states that do not tax military pay.
- The average military family pays over $2,000 per year in state income taxes in other states.
- In Arizona, your military income is completely tax-free, providing significant savings.
For tax details, visit the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Outdoor Activities in Arizona
Arizona offers year-round outdoor activities, from hiking and biking to fishing and boating. Popular destinations include:
- Grand Canyon National Park – Famous for breathtaking hikes such as Bright Angel Trail and South Kaibab Trail.
- Saguaro National Park – Explore scenic desert landscapes filled with iconic saguaro cacti.
- Sedona – Known for its red rock formations and trails like Cathedral Rock and Bell Rock.
- Prescott – Offers excellent mountain biking trails, including the Prescott Circle Trail.
- Scottsdale – Home to world-class golf courses such as TPC Scottsdale and Troon North Golf Club.
Find more outdoor activities on the Arizona Department of Tourism website.
