Neighborhoods
On-Post Housing
Military family housing$1,800 to $2,400/mo
Most families live on post due to the remote location, managed by Lendlease
Barstow
Desert town$1,200 to $1,600/mo
Nearest off-post community, 37 miles away, limited amenities but affordable
Victorville/Apple Valley
High Desert suburban$1,600 to $2,100/mo
About 60 miles south, more amenities and better schools but long commute
Yermo
Small desert community$900 to $1,300/mo
Very small community between the post and Barstow, extremely limited options
Schools
Fort Irwin Middle/High School
Grades 6-12
On-post school serving military families, small class sizes, dedicated teachers
Silver Valley Unified School District
Grades K-12
Serves Yermo and surrounding communities, limited resources
Barstow Unified School District
Grades K-12
Barstow public schools, some families commute children to Victorville for better options
Housing Intel
On-Post Housing
On-post housing is the primary option for most families given the remote location
Off-Post Rental Market
Limited off-post options, Barstow is the closest community
Commute
On-post commutes are short and simple. Soldiers choosing to live in Barstow face a 37-mile one-way drive on Highway 247, which is manageable but requires planning for desert weather conditions.
Installation Highlights
- National Training Center is the Army's most realistic and demanding combat training environment
- The desert landscape is stark but beautiful, with stunning sunsets and dark night skies
- Tight military community where everyone knows their neighbors and support networks are strong
- Death Valley National Park and Joshua Tree are within reasonable driving distance
- Las Vegas is about 90 minutes away for weekend getaways