Military families rarely have much say in where they live geographically. However, they do get to decide where to live once they receive orders.
Beyond the choice of on-base or off-base housing, there are several factors to consider when picking where to live at your next duty station. Many choose where to live based on travel time to work, dining or schools. Some choose where to live based on housing costs or accessibility.
Everyone values different things when deciding where to live. What’s important to one person may not matter much to another. For example, a family with children may choose a home in a preferred school district. But a family with high medical needs may choose to live closer to a large hospital or facility.
Once you receive orders, here are 4 things to consider when deciding where to live at your next duty station:
1. Your family’s priorities
First, decide what your family’s biggest priorities are. Do you want to be close to the base? Are you prioritizing the quality of schools? Home resale? Do you want access to activities, restaurants or outdoor living? What you value most may differ from others. This will set the tone for the decisions that follow.
Maybe you want to have a 20-minute or less commute to work. Or you want a walkable neighborhood. These priorities have the potential to alter, or even limit, your housing search. Discussing these priorities ahead of time also helps determine what you’re willing to be flexible on and what you’re not willing to budge on. So be sure to discuss top priorities before searching for somewhere to live!
2. Travel time
Even if your commute isn’t your biggest priority, travel time is something to consider. How long it takes to get to things may be important to your family, depending on your circumstances.
For instance, if you have kids in activities, consider how long it will take to get to and from those. If you want to vacation somewhere nearby, factor in how far away you are from airports or bus stations. Travel time from work, amenities or family is definitely something to consider when deciding where to live at your next duty station.
3. Schools
Regardless of if you have kids, the school district you live in is something to consider. It is more important if you have school-age children who will attend such schools. Buying a home in a good school district is important for home resale.
Consider bus stops, accessibility to school for a driving-age child or even walking distance from a school when choosing where to live. While many military families choose to homeschool or attend alternative schooling options, home resale value is generally better in well-revered school districts.
4. Accessibility
Whether you have kids, are extreme homebodies or just want to enjoy the average amount of necessities nearby, accessibility is important! After all, you need to eat, work, and play somewhere. Besides schools, many consider the location of medical facilities, restaurants, shopping and recreational activities when deciding where to live at their new duty station. Another thing to think about is how close you are to airports or vacation spots.
Many assume military families are limited in deciding where they live. That’s not always the case! Yes, military families are assigned a general area to live. They don’t always have much choice in that. However, military families do pick where they live once they arrive at their duty station. And there’s lots to consider when doing so!
Schools, amenities and a sense of community are just some factors military families consider when picking where to live at their next duty station.