Neighborhoods
Eielson On-Post Family Housing
On-Post Family Housing$1,500 to $2,200 BAH/mo
On-post housing is strongly recommended; off-post options are very limited in Interior Alaska.
Eielson Dorm / Unaccompanied Housing
On-Post BarracksBAH provided/mo
Modern dormitories upgraded in recent years with improved amenity access.
North Pole City
Off-Post Small Town$900 to $1,400/mo
Small community between Eielson and Fairbanks; lower cost of living but limited options.
Fairbanks City
Off-Post Urban$1,000 to $1,700/mo
Fairbanks offers more housing variety and commercial services but is 26 miles from base.
Schools
Lathrop Elementary School
Grades K-5
On-post DoDEA elementary with dedicated staff prepared for the unique challenges of Interior Alaska.
Ryan Middle School
Grades 6-8
On-post DoDEA middle school with science and outdoor education programs.
Lathrop High School (FNSBSD)
Grades 9-12
Off-post Fairbanks North Star Borough School District high school; DoDEA does not operate a high school.
Housing Intel
On-Post Housing
Strongly recommended; on-post housing is well-maintained and practical for the climate
Off-Post Rental Market
North Pole and Fairbanks for those preferring off-post; cold weather driving is routine
Commute
On-post is the standard; Fairbanks is 26 miles northwest via Richardson Highway. Road conditions are severe in winter.
Installation Highlights
- Home of the F-35A Arctic Aggressors and premier Red Flag-Alaska exercise host
- Midnight Sun from late May through late July with 24 hours of daylight
- Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) visible nearly every clear night from September through April
- World-class ice fishing, dog mushing, and snowmobile trails in Interior Alaska
- Remote interior assignment with strong unit cohesion and tight-knit base community