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Army5,000+ personnel

White Sands Missile Range

White Sands Missile Range · White Sands, New Mexico

White Sands Missile Range is the nation's premier missile testing and evaluation complex, occupying a vast swath of the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico. The installation is historically significant as the site of the first atomic bomb test at Trinity Site in 1945. Personnel stationed here access nearby communities of Alamogordo to the east and Las Cruces and El Paso to the south, enjoying the unique high desert landscape and rich New Mexico cultural heritage.

E-5 BAH
$1,107
O-3 BAH
$1,401
Avg Home Price
$195,000
Branch
Army
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Neighborhoods

Alamogordo

Small New Mexico city

$900 to $1,300/mo

Closest city to the eastern range entrance, affordable, good community feel

Las Cruces

Regional university city

$1,100 to $1,600/mo

Larger city 45 miles south, New Mexico State University, more amenities

El Paso, TX

Major metropolitan area

$1,200 to $1,700/mo

Just over the state line, 50 miles south, Fort Bliss proximity, full metro amenities

On-Post Housing

Military family housing

$1,000 to $1,400/mo

Available on post, required for some positions, convenient but remote

Schools

Alamogordo Public Schools

Grades K-12

Serves Alamogordo, military-familiar district, improving performance

Las Cruces Public Schools

Grades K-12

Large district in university city, more school options including magnet programs

Holloman AFB School Support

Grades K-12

Holloman AFB is adjacent to Alamogordo, shared school resources benefit both communities

Housing Intel

On-Post Housing

On-post housing available, required for some positions given range access needs

Off-Post Rental Market

Very affordable housing in Alamogordo and Las Cruces

Commute

Alamogordo residents commute 30 to 45 minutes to the range. Las Cruces and El Paso residents face longer 45 to 75 minute commutes depending on their destination on the range.

Installation Highlights

  • Trinity Site, where the first atomic bomb was detonated in 1945, is on the range and open twice yearly
  • White Sands National Park with its stunning gypsum dune fields is adjacent to the range
  • The New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo is world-class
  • Unique desert landscape and Chihuahuan Desert ecology with rich native wildlife
  • El Paso is just 50 miles south for major shopping, concerts, and international border culture

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