If you have orders for a PCS to McConnell Air Force Base, welcome to Wichita, Kansas. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. McConnell is a busy, mission-driven installation on the southeast side of Wichita, at the center of a region with solid schools, affordable housing, and a tight military community. This 2026 guide covers where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and a few things to do once you are settled.
A move is a lot to manage. Our goal is to make the McConnell part feel clearer.
What and Where Is McConnell AFB?
McConnell Air Force Base sits on the southeast side of Wichita, in Sedgwick County, Kansas. It is the home of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, the Air Force's largest air refueling wing. The 22nd ARW operates the KC-46A Pegasus and legacy KC-135 Stratotankers, with the wing's mission centered on aerial refueling — extending the range and endurance of U.S. and allied aircraft. In April 2026, a newly delivered KC-46A Pegasus touched down at McConnell, continuing the fleet modernization.
McConnell is also the home of two partner wings. The 931st Air Refueling Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command associate unit with more than 600 Airmen assigned, providing aircrews while the 22nd handles maintenance and aircraft. The 184th Wing is the Kansas Air National Guard wing co-located on the installation. Together, these three wings make McConnell one of the most active air refueling hubs in the Air Force.
Where to Live When PCSing to McConnell AFB
Most families live in on-base housing or one of the surrounding communities. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the feel you want. On-base residents are assigned to Derby USD 260.
Approximate one-way drive times to McConnell AFB. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.
Derby
Derby wraps the base's north side and is the most popular off-base choice for McConnell families. The drive to the main gate is roughly 10 minutes. According to the McConnell AFB School Liaison page, families in on-base housing attend Derby schools, and many off-base Derby residents do as well. Derby USD 260 serves more than 6,500 students and offers Project Lead the Way STEM programming and Advanced Placement courses.
Wichita
South and central Wichita put you 10 to 20 minutes from the gate with access to the city's full range of shopping, restaurants, and parks. Wichita USD 259 is the largest district in Kansas — more than 50,000 students, magnet schools, and an International Baccalaureate program. The right pick if you want urban conveniences and a wide range of housing types.
Haysville
Haysville sits directly south of Wichita, roughly 15 minutes from the base. It has a residential feel with local parks, and Haysville USD 261 serves more than 5,000 students. Campus High School is a candidate school for the IB Diploma program.
Andover
Andover is about 20 minutes northeast of McConnell and has seen strong growth. Andover USD 385 serves approximately 5,180 students with Advanced Placement and dual-credit college options at the high school level. A popular pick for families who want newer development and more space.
Rose Hill and Mulvane
Rose Hill and Mulvane both sit about 20 minutes south of the base and offer a quieter, small-town feel. Rose Hill USD 394 serves roughly 1,700 students; Mulvane USD 263 serves approximately 1,900, with AP and dual-credit courses through Cowley County Community College. Mulvane is also close to Cheney Lake.
McConnell 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 tied to 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. McConnell AFB falls within the Wichita, Kansas MHA.
Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. Use the official DoD calculator at travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup to find your figure. Always confirm before signing a lease or making an offer.
For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Wichita was about $202,720 as of early 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 19, 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.
A VA loan — a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs — can remove the down-payment requirement for eligible service members and veterans. Before you shop, read how does a 0-down VA loan work and 2026 VA loan limits explained for military homebuyers.
Schools Near McConnell AFB
Your address determines which district your children attend. The community descriptions above include district details for each area. The McConnell AFB School Liaison Officer can verify the correct district for any specific address and help smooth enrollment paperwork when you arrive.
School boundaries can shift. Confirm the assigned school before you commit to a home.
