If you have orders for a PCS to Naval Air Station Lemoore, welcome to California's Central Valley. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for relocating from one duty station to another. NAS Lemoore is the Navy's premier West Coast strike fighter base, set in Kings County amid the flat, agricultural San Joaquin Valley with the Sierra Nevada rising to the east. This guide covers where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, and life at this one-of-a-kind installation.

What and Where Is NAS Lemoore?

Naval Air Station Lemoore is a U.S. Navy installation in Kings County, California, roughly 40 miles south of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley. According to the official NAS Lemoore About page, the station was commissioned in July 1961. Its Central Valley location was chosen deliberately — close enough to the Navy's seaport facilities for logistical support, yet far enough from major population centers to allow unencumbered flight operations.

Today, NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (CSFWP) and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing (CJSFW). More than half of the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II. The station hosts 16 operational Strike Fighter squadrons, two Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS), one Search and Rescue squadron, and four West Coast Carrier Air Wing Commands. On average, 210,000 flight operations occur annually — locals call it the Sound of Freedom.

Where to Live When PCSing to NAS Lemoore

Most families who PCS to NAS Lemoore either live in on-station housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities. Choice comes down to commute time, school options, and budget. Permanent personnel may be eligible for on-station housing, so ask your sponsor and the housing office about wait times early.

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

Lemoore

The city of Lemoore surrounds the station and is the first choice for many families. A drive of about 10 minutes to the main gate is among the shortest available. The city has a small-town feel with grocery stores, restaurants, and shops nearby, and housing tends to be more affordable than in larger cities to the north or south.

Armona

Armona is a small, quiet community a few miles north of Lemoore, roughly 15 minutes from the station. It appeals to families who want more space and a rural pace while staying close to the gate.

Hanford

Hanford is the Kings County seat, about 20 minutes from the station. It is the largest city in the immediate area, with more shopping, dining, and services than Lemoore. Families who want broader amenities without a long drive often find Hanford a practical middle ground.

Visalia

Visalia, the Tulare County seat, sits about 45 minutes southeast. It is a significantly larger city with a wider range of housing, schools, and retail — and it is the closest urban hub to Sequoia National Park's Ash Mountain entrance.

Fresno

Fresno is roughly 50 minutes north — the largest metro in the Central Valley, with hospitals, a university, and a wide variety of neighborhoods. The commute is the longest on this list, but some families choose Fresno for the depth of options or a spouse's career.

NAS Lemoore BAH and the Cost of Living

If you live off station, the military helps cover housing through BAH — Basic Allowance for Housing — a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on your paygrade, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area (MHA), the geographic zone the Department of Defense uses to set local housing pay. NAS Lemoore falls within its own MHA for Kings County.

Because rates change each year and vary by paygrade 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 BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your paygrade and ZIP code and always confirm before signing a lease or making an offer.

For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Lemoore was about $383,986 as of May 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 use your VA loan benefit, read our overviews of what are the benefits of a VA loan and how does a 0-down VA loan work.

Schools Near NAS Lemoore

The schools your children attend depend on where you live. Several districts serve the NAS Lemoore area, and boundaries do not always follow city limits.

Families in the city of Lemoore fall under Lemoore Union Elementary School District for grades K–8, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), and the Lemoore Union High School District for grades 9–12. Families in Hanford are served by Hanford Elementary School District (K–8) and Hanford Joint Union High School District (9–12). Families in Armona and parts of unincorporated Kings County may fall under Central Union Elementary School District.

Always verify the assigned attendance zone for any specific address with the relevant district before committing.