If you have orders for a PCS to Beale Air Force Base, welcome to the Sacramento Valley. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for an official move from one duty station to another. Beale AFB sits in Yuba County, California, between the cities of Marysville and Yuba City, about 40 miles north of Sacramento. This 2026 guide covers the base mission, where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and things to do once you are settled.

What and Where Is Beale AFB?

Beale Air Force Base is located in Yuba County in California's northern Sacramento Valley, roughly nine miles east of Marysville. It is the home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, the Air Force's primary high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance wing.

The 9th RW operates the U-2 Dragon Lady, a single-engine reconnaissance aircraft that has gathered imagery and signals intelligence since the 1950s, and the RQ-4 Global Hawk, an unmanned aerial vehicle built for long high-altitude missions. The wing also operates the T-38 Talon for pilot proficiency training. According to the 9th RW fact sheet on beale.af.mil, the wing is composed of more than 3,000 personnel in four groups and conducts reconnaissance missions around the world 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Beale AFB also hosts a missile-warning radar mission that contributes to national defense.

Where to Live When PCSing to Beale AFB

Most families who move to Beale AFB either live in on-post housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the kind of setting you want. Ask your sponsor and the housing office about on-post availability and current wait times before you commit to a neighborhood off base.

Approximate one-way drive times to Beale AFB. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.

Marysville

Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County and one of the closest communities to the base, with a drive of roughly 15 minutes. It is a small, historic city on the Yuba River with affordable housing and a tight-knit feel. Many service members stationed at Beale find Marysville a practical choice for keeping commutes short and costs manageable.

Wheatland

Wheatland is a small town in Yuba County, also about 15 minutes from the main gate. It has a quiet, agricultural character and sits closer to the foothills. Families who want a small-town setting with a short commute often look here.

Yuba City

Yuba City, just across the Feather River from Marysville, is the larger commercial hub of the area and about 20 minutes from the base. It offers more shopping, dining, and medical options than Marysville while still keeping commutes reasonable. It is the most service-rich community in the immediate area and a common choice for families who want more amenities close by.

Lincoln

Lincoln is in Placer County, roughly 30 minutes south of the base. It has grown quickly over the past two decades with new master-planned communities, strong schools, and a suburban feel. Families willing to drive a little farther for more amenities and newer construction often look in Lincoln.

Roseville

Roseville is a large suburban city in Placer County, about 45 minutes from Beale. It has a wide range of housing, restaurants, shopping, and services, and it connects easily to the Sacramento metro. Expect a longer daily commute in exchange for city-level amenities and a larger housing market.

Sacramento

The state capital is roughly 50 minutes south. It offers the most in terms of employment, entertainment, and urban life, but the commute is the longest on this list. It tends to work best for families with flexible schedules or a second income in the city.

Beale AFB BAH and the Cost of Living

If you live off base, the military helps cover your housing through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your pay grade, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Department of Defense uses to set local housing pay. Beale AFB falls within the Yuba City, California Military Housing Area.

Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. To find your exact figure, use the official DoD BAH calculator at travel.dod.mil. Enter your pay grade and ZIP code to see the current rate. Always confirm your rate before signing a lease or making an offer.

For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Yuba City was about $443,000 in early 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be stationed here, so run the numbers for your own situation.

If you plan to buy, your VA loan benefits deserve a close look. A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that eligible service members can use with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Read what are the benefits of a VA loan, how does a 0-down VA loan work, and our 2026 VA loan limits explained for military homebuyers before you shop.

Schools Near Beale AFB

The schools your children attend depend on where you live. Several districts serve the Beale AFB area.

Families living on base at Beale are primarily served by the Wheatland Elementary School District and Wheatland Union High School District, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Lone Tree Elementary and Wheatland Charter Academy, both within the Wheatland Elementary School District, are located directly at or near Beale AFB.