Life at Hanscom Air Force Base

Happy to have this guest post by Melissa on being stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for blog posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Getting stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base? You’ve come to the right place for everything you need to know before you arrive. 

Hi, I’m Melissa Robinson from My hills and valleys and I have lived at Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts for the past 2 years. I’ve had a pretty great experience here and I’m excited to tell you all about it!

Hanscom AFB is about 15-20 inland from Boston. The base has 2 gated entrances and is nestled in between the towns of Lexington and Bedford. This area of Massachusetts is super rich in history and you can find plenty to do around here!

Let’s cover that first!

What I love most about this area:

I definitely love the tree-lined streets and the old houses. But my favorite part of living in Massachusetts is the fall season. The weather, trees changing colors, farm activities, it’s all very idyllic. You are also centrally located to many New England hot spots such as local farms, historic sites, ski resorts, mountains, New Hampshire, Maine, and even Bermuda! 

Nearby Restaurants you don’t want to miss:

Border Cafe, Burlington

Yard House, Burlington

Burton’s Bar & Grille, Burlington

Posto, Bedford

Mario’s Italian Restaurant, Lexington

Recommended kid’s entertainment:

Boston Children’s Museum

Discovery Museum, Acton

Stone Zoo

Franklin Park Zoo

Launch Trampoline Park

USS Constitution Museum

Trips & activities we took while stationed at Hanscom AFB:

Bermuda All-Inclusive Family Vacation

Canoeing the Charles River

Local Farms

Boston Public Garden

White Mountains, New Hampshire

Walden Pond

Ice Castles, New Hampshire

What I don’t love about this area:

There is one thing about this area that makes me not want to live here. It’s the weather. It is cold from September/October – late May. The spring season still feels like winter, so it gets old, fast. That’s probably the only thing I don’t like about living in Massachusetts.

Let’s talk about base!

I have enjoyed living on base. It’s a well-kept and safe community. There are plenty of amenities and year-round community events. 

Our neighborhood is very family oriented and you and your kids will have no problem making friends quickly.

Hanscom Family Housing offers market rate and BAH rate housing options. 

Here is a list of all the base amenities:

Shopping: Commissary, Exchange, Class Six, Thrift Store, GNC

Food: Dunkin Donuts, Froots, Subway, Pizza Mia

Entertainment: Pool & Splash Pad, Bowling Alley, Movie Theatre, Outdoor Recreation Center, Playgrounds, Tickets & Tours, Running Track, Gym, Indoor Basketball & Racquetball Courts, Rock Climbing Wall, Dog Park

Conveniences: Barber Shop, Post Office, Car Wash, Gas Station, Dry Cleaners

Other: Hanscom Primary School, Hanscom Middle School, Youth Center, Hanscom Inn, Chapel, Child Development Center, Medical Clinic, Pharmacy 

*If you have a child in High School, they would attend Bedford High School or Shawsheen VoTech High School.

The base isn’t very large, so you can walk or ride your bike wherever you need to go, should you choose to do so. 

I really love the experience my oldest son had in grades 4-5 at Hanscom Middle School. After school, he would walk over to the youth center which has tons of after school activities for the kids to be involved in. 

There are many opportunities to get connected within the Hanscom community. 

Here is a list of resources for you:

Hanscom PTO

Protestant Women of the Chapel

Hanscom Spouses Club

iStroll Lexington

Hi, I’m Melissa! I am a military spouse, stay-at-home mom of 2 boys, and content creator for My Hills and Valleys. I share my life’s experiences in faith, family, and travel – which we’ve been fortunate to do a lot of through the military. I have a passion to encourage others as we find common ground together. For more on my time as a spouse in the military, check out I’ve been married to the military for 20 years.