If you have orders for a PCS to Goodfellow Air Force Base, welcome to San Angelo, Texas. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. Goodfellow is a compact, mission-focused installation in the heart of the Concho Valley, and it draws students and permanent-party personnel from every branch of the military. This 2026 guide will walk you through what to expect when you arrive: where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and a few things to do once you are settled.

A PCS move is a lot to manage. Our goal is to make the San Angelo part feel a little smaller and a lot clearer.

What and Where Is Goodfellow Air Force Base?

Goodfellow Air Force Base is located in San Angelo, in Tom Green County in west-central Texas. It sits on the southern edge of the city, roughly two miles from downtown San Angelo.

The installation is home to the 17th Training Wing (17 TRW), which falls under Air Education and Training Command, or AETC. According to the official Goodfellow AFB website, the 17 TRW mission is to "Train, Transform, and Empower joint and coalition warriors." That mission runs on two pillars.

The first is intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, or ISR, training. The 17th Training Group trains ISR warriors at initial, intermediate, and advanced levels, graduating nearly 14,000 students each year who go on to support combat units and national-level agencies worldwide.

The second is fire protection. Goodfellow hosts the DoD's centralized fire-protection training program, producing fire professionals for all services.

What makes Goodfellow distinctive is its joint character. Army, Marine Corps, and Navy tenant units are all permanently present on the installation. The 344th Military Intelligence Battalion, a Marine Corps Detachment, and a Naval Aviation Technical Training Command Learning Site train here alongside Air Force students every day.

For an overview of all Texas installations, see our guide to what military bases are in Texas.

Where to Live When PCSing to Goodfellow AFB

Most families who come to Goodfellow either live on post or settle in one of the surrounding communities in and around San Angelo. Because the base is inside the city, commutes from most off-post neighborhoods are short, and you have a real range of options at different price points.

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

San Angelo

San Angelo is the city Goodfellow calls home. Most service members choose to live in town, with a commute of about 10 minutes or less. The city has established neighborhoods, newer subdivisions, apartments, and rentals across a wide price range. You are close to shopping, restaurants, and medical care, and the Concho River Walk is often within easy reach. It is the most practical choice for students and permanent-party personnel alike.

Grape Creek

Grape Creek is a small community northwest of San Angelo, about 15 minutes from the base. It has a quieter, residential feel with easy access to the North Concho River. Families who want a little more space while keeping a reasonable commute often look here.

Wall

Wall is a rural community about 20 minutes southwest of the base on the open prairie. It is home to Wall ISD, which draws families who want a smaller school district. Housing tends to offer larger lots, with the trade-off of a longer daily drive.

Christoval

Christoval sits about 25 minutes south, along the South Concho River near the Hill Country edge. It is a quiet small town known for fishing and camping. Families who want a rural setting and do not mind limited local amenities sometimes land here.

Goodfellow AFB BAH and the Cost of Living

If you live off post, the military helps cover your housing costs through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, 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. Goodfellow AFB falls within the San Angelo, Texas MHA.

Because BAH 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 calculator: travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your rank and ZIP code for the current rate. Always confirm your rate before signing a lease or making an offer.

San Angelo is one of the more affordable housing markets in Texas. The typical home value in San Angelo was about $221,396 as of April 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 situation.

If you are thinking about using your VA loan benefit — a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs — start with our overview of what are the benefits of a VA loan and how does a 0 down VA loan work. You can also connect with a VeteranPCS lender who works with military families in Texas.

Schools Near Goodfellow AFB

The schools your children attend depend entirely on where you live. San Angelo and the surrounding area are served by several separate districts.

San Angelo Independent School District is the largest local system and serves most families who live in the city. According to NCES, San Angelo ISD operates 21 schools serving grades pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, with enrollment concentrated in the city of San Angelo. The district includes Central High School, Lake View High School, and several middle and elementary schools across the city.

Families who live west of the city in the Wall area are served by Wall ISD, a smaller rural district that draws families who prefer a tighter-knit school community. Those who settle farther out toward Christoval fall under Christoval ISD.

Boundaries can shift, so confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit.