Fort Campbell PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Local Intel

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Fort Campbell straddles the TN/KY border and is home to the 101st Airborne Division with 27,000 active duty personnel.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Good savings (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with cash left over)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,350/month (affordable)
• School Quality: Christian County KY (7-8/10) beats Clarksville TN (6-7/10)

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, and TN/KY border area intel.

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Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Fort Campbell (literally on TN/KY state line)
• Location: Clarksville, TN / Oak Grove, KY
• Size: 105,000 acres (one of the largest Army posts)
• Population: 27,000 active duty + 48,000 family members
• Branch: Army (101st Airborne Division - Air Assault)
• Major Units: 101st Airborne, 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers), 5th Special Forces Group
• Climate: Humid subtropical - hot summers (85-95°F), mild winters (35-50°F)
• Nearest Major City: Nashville (50 miles south)

Want real-time data? This guide provides 2025 rates and static intel. For live housing prices, current school ratings, and personalized recommendations, use Base Navigator → (Premium)

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BAH Rates

BAH rates sourced from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), updated annually. See official source →

Key Insight: BAH easily covers rent in all neighborhoods. Kentucky side (Oak Grove/Hopkinsville) has better schools than Tennessee side (Clarksville). Your address determines your kids' school district—choose wisely.

Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

Top Tier - Best Value

1. Oak Grove, KY

• Median Rent: $1,350/month (3BR house)
• Commute: 5-10 min to Gate 4
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Christian County KY)
• Why It's Good: Best schools, close to base, safe, newer development
• Watch Out For: Small town feel, fewer amenities than Clarksville

2. North Clarksville, TN (near Exit 11)

• Median Rent: $1,400/month
• Commute: 15-20 min to Gate 4
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Clarksville-Montgomery County)
• Why It's Good: More shopping/dining, newer neighborhoods, safe
• Watch Out For: Traffic on Wilma Rudolph Blvd during rush hour

3. Hopkinsville, KY

• Median Rent: $1,200/month
• Commute: 15-20 min to Gate 7
• Schools: 7/10 (Christian County KY)
• Why It's Good: Affordable, good schools, small-town feel
• Watch Out For: 20 min to major shopping, more rural

Avoid / Know What You're Getting Into

Downtown Clarksville

• Why: Older housing, higher crime, fewer good schools
• Exception: Historic district gentrifying, but still risky

East Clarksville (near Exit 4)

• Why: Older area, declining, higher crime
• Exception: Some pockets okay, but generally avoid

On-Base Housing

• Wait Time: 60-120 days depending on bedroom count
• Quality: 6-7/10 - Mixed quality, some renovated, some older
• Communities: Cole Park, Campbell Crossing, Mahaffey
• Recommendation: Good for zero commute. Quality varies—Campbell Crossing is newest, Mahaffey is oldest. Inspect before accepting.

Apply for on-base housing: Corvias (931) 431-1777

Schools That Don't Suck

Top Elementary Schools

• West Side Elementary (Christian County KY) - 8/10 - Oak Grove
• Cumberland Heights Elementary (Clarksville) - 7/10 - North Clarksville
• Richview Middle (Clarksville) - 7/10 - North Clarksville

Top Middle Schools

• Christian County Middle - 8/10 - Oak Grove area
• Richview Middle - 7/10 - North Clarksville

Top High Schools

• Hopkinsville High (Christian County) - 8/10 - Hopkinsville
• Fort Campbell High (DoDEA on-base) - 8/10 - On-base (if eligible)
• Rossview High (Clarksville) - 7/10 - North Clarksville

Schools to Avoid

• Most central/south Clarksville schools - 5-6/10 - Older, struggling
• Northwest High - 6/10 - Below average for area

School District Info: Christian County KY (best - 7-8/10), Clarksville-Montgomery County TN (decent - 6-7/10). If schools matter, choose Kentucky side. Christian County Schools

For live school ratings and neighborhood analysis: Base Navigator →

Local Intel (What You Actually Need to Know)

Cost of Living

• vs. National Average: 12% lower (very affordable)
• Groceries: Commissary is solid. Kroger off-base is comparable. Food City cheap but lower quality.
• Gas: $2.90-3.30/gal
• State Taxes: Tennessee has NO state income tax. Kentucky DOES tax military pay (5%). Live on TN side if avoiding state tax matters.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: Wilma Rudolph Blvd (Exit 11) backs up 7-9am and 4-6pm
• Best Gates: Gate 4 (fastest), Gate 7 (Kentucky side), Gate 10 (backroads)
• Pro Tip: Avoid Highway 41A during rush hour. Use Fort Campbell Blvd (Gate 4 road).

Commissary & BX/PX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings (9-11am)
• Worst Times: Saturday (any time), payday weekends
• Off-Base Alternative: Kroger, Walmart, Target (all solid)

Things You Should Know

• TN vs KY: Your address determines schools AND state taxes. KY has better schools but taxes military pay.
• Helicopters: You live near 160th SOAR (Night Stalkers). Black Hawks fly at night. A lot. Get used to it or move far from base.
• Tornado Season: Spring (March-May). Sirens go off regularly. Have shelter plan. Basements are common here.
• Nashville Close: 50 min to Nashville for concerts, sports, better food scene. Great weekend option.
• Air Assault Badge: Expect to see air assault operations constantly. Chinooks, Black Hawks, Apaches everywhere.

Hidden Gems

• Dunbar Cave State Park - Clarksville, great hiking/history
• Land Between the Lakes - 30 min, 170,000 acres, camping/fishing paradise
• Nashville Day Trip - Broadway honky-tonks, Titans/Predators games
• Mammoth Cave National Park - 90 min, world's longest cave system

Areas to Avoid After Dark

• Downtown Clarksville (Madison St area) - Higher crime
• East Clarksville - Declining area, avoid
• South Hopkinsville - Rougher area, stay north

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What's It Like to Live at Fort Campbell?

Real Talk: Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division—one of the Army's most deployed units. This is a high-optempo, mission-focused base. Clarksville is a typical military town on the TN/KY border. If you want to be part of a storied unit with intense deployment tempo, this is it.

Deployment Tempo:

• 101st Airborne BCTs: Very High—9-12 month deployments every 12-18 months, constant rotations
• 101st Aviation (GSAB): Very High—frequent deployments, OCONUS rotations
• Support Units: Moderate—fewer deployments but support deploying units heavily

Quality of Life:

• Affordable: BAH easily covers rent with $200-400 buffer
• Military Town: Clarksville revolves around Fort Campbell—huge Army community
• Southern Living: Hot summers, mild winters, hospitality culture
• Nashville Access: 45 min away for music, food, nightlife

The Good:

• 101st history and culture—"Rendezvous with Destiny" is real
• BAH goes far, you'll pocket money easily
• No state income tax (if you live TN side)
• Nashville is close (music city, bachelorette party capital)

The Not-So-Good:

• Very high deployment tempo—family separations are the norm
• Clarksville is fine but nothing special (typical military town)
• Humid summers (85-95°F + 80% humidity)
• Tornado season (spring) is real—you'll learn about sirens

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -10% lower — Affordable compared to most of US
Housing: -12% lower — BAH covers rent with buffer
Groceries: -5% lower — Commissary + local savings
Utilities: +10% higher — AC runs 6 months, humid climate
Transportation: -8% lower — Gas, insurance cheaper than coasts
Healthcare: N/A — Tricare/Blanchfield Army Community Hospital

Monthly Budget (E5 with 2 kids, off-base):

• Rent: $1,500 (3BR house in St. Bethlehem or Sango)
• Utilities: $200-300 (AC runs May-Oct, electric bills spike summer)
• Groceries: $800 (family of 4, commissary + Kroger mix)
• Gas: $150 (two cars, commute 15-20 min)
• Childcare: $600-900 (if needed—CDC waitlist 6-9 months)
• Entertainment: $200-300 (Nashville trips, local activities)
• Total: $3,450-4,150/month

BAH vs. Reality (E5 with dependents):

• BAH Coverage: Comfortable—covers rent with good buffer
• Savings Potential: Good—affordable market, can save
• Median Rent: $1,500/month
• Buffer: $330/month (solid pocket money)

State Taxes:

• Tennessee: 0% state income tax (if you live TN side)
• Kentucky: 4.5% state income tax (if you live KY side)
• Most people live TN side to avoid KY tax

Pro Tips to Save Money:

• Live on TN side (no state income tax vs. 4.5% KY tax)
• Shop commissary for meat/staples (20%+ savings)
• Use Kroger for produce/sales (better than commissary)
• Nashville is close but expensive—budget for trips
• Fort Campbell MWR programs (bowling, pools) are cheap family fun

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Clarksville's economy is Fort Campbell + healthcare + logistics. Nashville (45 min) has way better opportunities but that commute gets old. Remote work is ideal here.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Healthcare: Tennova Healthcare, Blanchfield (civilian positions)
2. On-Base Contractors: DynCorp, KBR, PAE (admin, logistics, IT)
3. Retail/Service: Kroger, Target, Walmart (flexible hours)
4. Education: Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools (teachers start $45K)
5. Remote Work: Best option—many spouses work remote for Nashville companies

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $60,000-75,000
• On-base contractor (admin): $35,000-50,000
• Retail management: $30,000-42,000
• Teaching (TN): $45,000-58,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Fort Campbell has huge NAF workforce (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Army Community Service job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available
• 101st spouse groups extremely active and supportive

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 6-9 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $150-225/week per child
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $125-200/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $75-150/week

For Families:

• Schools: Live in St. Bethlehem or Sango for best schools (7-8/10)
• Activities: Nashville day trips, base MWR, youth sports, Land Between the Lakes
• Support: 101st spouse community is STRONG—FRGs are very active during deployments

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Common Questions About Fort Campbell

Q: Is Fort Campbell a good duty station? A: If you want to be part of the 101st and can handle constant deployments, yes. It's one of the Army's most storied divisions. If you want stability and low optempo, absolutely not.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base in St. Bethlehem or Sango. On-base housing is 5/10 quality with waitlists. Off-base gets you better schools, more space, and you'll pocket $300+/month.

Q: How bad is the deployment tempo? A: Very high. 101st BCTs deploy every 12-18 months for 9-12 months. You'll be gone a lot. Support units deploy less but still support workups heavily.

Q: TN side or KY side? A: TN side—no state income tax. KY charges 4.5% income tax. Living on TN side saves you thousands/year.

Q: What's the best neighborhood for families? A: St. Bethlehem or Sango (good schools 7-8/10, safe, 15-20 min commute). Avoid Clarksville downtown and north of Exit 11.

Q: How humid is it really? A: Very. 85-95°F + 80% humidity May-September. You'll sweat walking to your car. AC runs constantly. Budget $250-300/month electric in summer.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Yes—healthcare and on-base contracting are solid. Nashville (45 min) has better opportunities but commute is rough. Remote work is ideal.

Q: What's there to do? A: Base facilities are excellent. Nashville 45 min (Broadway, honky-tonks, food scene). Land Between the Lakes 30 min. Mammoth Cave 1 hour. Outdoor activities solid.

Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

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Official Resources & References

This guide synthesizes data from official Department of Defense sources. For additional information:

• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) - Official military pay and allowances
• Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) - PCS entitlements and regulations
• MilitaryOneSource - Free 24/7 counseling and family support
• Defense Travel Management Office - Official BAH rates and per diem

Last verified: 2025-11-10. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.