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

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Fort Hood (temporarily renamed Fort Cavazos 2023-2025, officially Fort Hood again as of July 2025) is the Army's premier armor post with 36,000 active duty personnel.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Comfortable fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,350/month (affordable)
• School Quality: Avoid Killeen ISD (5/10), target Harker Heights or Belton (7-8/10)

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, and Central Texas local intel.

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Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos 2023-2025)
• Location: Killeen, TX (Bell County)
• Size: 340 square miles (largest active duty armored post)
• Population: 36,000 active duty + 50,000 family members
• Branch: Army (III Armored Corps)
• Major Units: III Corps, 1st Cavalry Division, 13th Sustainment Command
• Climate: Hot Texas summers (95-105°F), mild winters (40-60°F)
• Nearest Major City: Austin (70 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 comfortably covers rent in all good neighborhoods. Housing market is affordable—your BAH goes further here than most posts. Harker Heights and Belton both under BAH limits with better schools than Killeen.

Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

Top Tier - Best Value

1. Harker Heights

• Median Rent: $1,400/month (3BR house)
• Commute: 15-20 min to Clear Creek Gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Harker Heights ISD)
• Why It's Good: Best schools in area, safe, family-friendly, newer development
• Watch Out For: Slightly more expensive than Killeen but worth it for schools

2. Belton

• Median Rent: $1,300/month
• Commute: 25 min to Main Gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Belton ISD)
• Why It's Good: Good schools, small-town feel, safe, affordable
• Watch Out For: Longer commute, fewer amenities than Killeen/Harker Heights

3. Copperas Cove

• Median Rent: $1,250/month
• Commute: 10-15 min to West Fort Hood Gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Copperas Cove ISD)
• Why It's Good: Close to base, affordable, military-heavy community
• Watch Out For: Small town, limited shopping/dining options

Avoid / Know What You're Getting Into

Killeen (Central/East)

• Why: High crime, poor schools (5/10 average), older housing
• Exception: Some newer subdivisions near Trimmier Road are okay, but check carefully

Heights (neighborhood, not city)

• Why: Known crime area, avoid despite sounding like Harker Heights
• Exception: None. Different place, don't confuse with Harker Heights.

On-Base Housing

• Wait Time: 30-90 days depending on bedroom count
• Quality: 6-7/10 - Improving after privatization, older units still rough
• Communities: Clear Creek, West Fort Hood, East Range
• Recommendation: Good for zero commute. Quality varies—inspect before accepting. Clear Creek communities are newer.

Apply for on-base housing: Lendlease (254) 287-6434

Schools That Don't Suck

Top Elementary Schools

• Cedar Valley Elementary (Harker Heights) - 8/10 - Harker Heights
• Union Grove Elementary (Belton) - 8/10 - Belton
• Skipcha Elementary (Harker Heights) - 7/10 - Harker Heights

Top Middle Schools

• Harker Heights Middle - 8/10 - Harker Heights
• Bella Charca Middle (Belton) - 7/10 - Belton

Top High Schools

• Harker Heights High - 8/10 - Harker Heights
• Belton High - 8/10 - Belton
• Shoemaker High (Killeen) - 7/10 - Best in Killeen ISD but still not great

Schools to Avoid

• Most Killeen ISD schools - 4-6/10 - Low test scores, higher discipline issues
• Ellison High - 5/10 - Largest HS in area, struggles with quality

School District Info: Harker Heights ISD (best), Belton ISD (good), Killeen ISD (avoid if possible). Register at district offices—open enrollment available. Harker Heights ISD

For live school ratings and neighborhood analysis: Base Navigator →

Local Intel (What You Actually Need to Know)

Cost of Living

• vs. National Average: 10% lower (affordable)
• Groceries: Commissary is solid. HEB off-base is Texas treasure—comparable prices, better selection.
• Gas: $2.80-3.20/gal (cheap)
• State Taxes: Texas has NO state income tax. Keep more of your pay.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: Rancier Ave and Fort Hood St are parking lots 7-9am and 4-6pm
• Best Gates: Clear Creek Gate (fastest for Harker Heights), West Fort Hood Gate (Copperas Cove)
• Pro Tip: Use Trimmier Road instead of Rancier during rush hour. Way faster.

Commissary & BX/PX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings (9-11am)
• Worst Times: Saturday, payday weekends, right after 5pm
• Off-Base Alternative: HEB (Texas institution, amazing), Walmart, Costco

Things You Should Know

• It's HOT: Summer is brutal (100+ days). AC is non-negotiable. Budget for $200+ electric bills June-September.
• Gate Drama: Main Gate is always slow. Use Clear Creek or West Fort Hood if possible.
• Tank Crossings: Yes, tanks cross roads. You'll wait. It's cool the first time, annoying the 50th.
• Tornado Season: Spring (March-May). Have shelter plan. Sirens are common.
• "Fort Hood" vs "Fort Cavazos": Literally no one calls it Cavazos except official documents. You'll sound weird. Call it Hood.

Hidden Gems

• Stillhouse Hollow Lake - 20 min, great fishing/boating
• Belton Lake - 30 min, larger lake, beach areas
• Austin Day Trip - 70 min south, live music capital, great food scene
• Salado - 30 min, cute historic town, good restaurants

Areas to Avoid After Dark

• East Killeen (near Old Fort Hood Rd) - High crime
• Heights neighborhood - Gang activity, shootings
• Downtown Killeen - Homeless population, sketch factor high

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What's It Like to Live at Fort Hood?

Real Talk: Fort Cavazos (still called Hood by everyone) is the Army's premier armor and mechanized base. Home to III Corps and 1st Cavalry Division, this is a high-optempo, deployment-heavy installation. Killeen is 100% a military town—the base IS the economy.

Deployment Tempo:

• 1st Cav / III Corps BCTs: Very High—9-12 month deployments every 18-24 months, plus NTC rotations
• Fires/Aviation: High—frequent rotations supporting BCTs
• Support Units: Moderate—fewer deployments but heavy field training schedule

Quality of Life:

• Affordable: BAH easily covers rent with $300-500 left over
• Military Town: Killeen revolves around the base—huge Army family community
• Central Texas: 1 hour to Austin, 2.5 hours to Dallas/San Antonio
• Hot as Hell: 100°F+ summers, AC runs 6+ months, get used to it

The Good:

• BAH goes far—you'll pocket $300-500/month easy
• No state income tax (Texas) means bigger paychecks
• Massive base with every facility you need (hospitals, schools, shopping)
• Austin is 1 hour away (music, food, culture scene)

The Not-So-Good:

• Killeen itself is rough—high crime, not much to do
• Summer heat is brutal (100-110°F June-September)
• High deployment tempo = frequent family separations
• Traffic around base gates 6-8am and 4-6pm is nightmare fuel

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -8% lower — Affordable compared to most of US
Housing: -15% lower — BAH covers rent with money left over
Groceries: -5% lower — Commissary savings add up
Utilities: +15% higher — AC runs 7+ months at $200-300/month
Transportation: -10% lower — Gas, insurance cheaper than coasts
Healthcare: N/A — Tricare/base medical (Darnall)

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

• Rent: $1,400 (3BR house in Harker Heights/Nolanville)
• Utilities: $250-350 (AC is brutal June-Sept, electric spikes hard)
• Groceries: $750 (family of 4, commissary + HEB mix)
• Gas: $150 (two cars, commute 15-20 min)
• Childcare: $500-800 (if needed—CDC waitlist 6-9 months)
• Entertainment: $200-300 (local options limited, Austin trips add up)
• Total: $3,250-4,150/month

BAH vs. Reality (E5 with dependents):

• BAH Coverage: Comfortable—covers rent with buffer
• Savings Potential: Modest—can pocket some cash
• Median Rent: $1,400/month
• Buffer: $370/month (solid pocket money)

State Taxes:

• Texas: 0% state income tax
• Military pay is exempt (no state tax period)
• No local income taxes—keep more of your paycheck

Pro Tips to Save Money:

• Shop HEB (Texas grocery chain, better produce than commissary)
• Use commissary for meat/packaged goods (20%+ savings)
• Budget for AC bills—$300+ electric bills June-September are normal
• Austin is close but expensive—limit trips or you'll blow your buffer
• Use base facilities (pools, gyms, bowling) for cheap family fun

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Killeen's economy revolves around Fort Cavazos. Most civilian jobs are base-related or service industry. Austin (1 hour) has way better opportunities but that commute gets old fast. Remote work is the play here.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Healthcare: AdventHealth Central Texas, Darnall Army Medical Center (civilian positions)
2. On-Base Contractors: DynCorp, KBR, Vectrus (admin, logistics, IT)
3. Retail/Service: HEB, Target, Walmart (flexible hours, decent benefits)
4. Education: Killeen ISD, Harker Heights ISD (teachers start $45K)
5. Remote Work: Best option—many spouses work remote for Austin/Dallas companies

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $60,000-75,000
• On-base contractor (admin): $35,000-50,000
• Retail management: $28,000-40,000
• Teaching (TX): $45,000-55,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Fort Cavazos has huge NAF workforce (child development, fitness, MWR)
• Army Community Service has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Spouse networking groups very active (1st Cav spouses especially)

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 6-9 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $125-200/week per child (affordable)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $100-175/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $75-125/week

For Families:

• Schools: Live in Harker Heights/Nolanville for better schools (see Schools section)
• Activities: Base MWR programs, youth sports, Belton Lake, Austin day trips
• Support: Massive Army spouse community—FRGs are strong here

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Common Questions About Fort Hood

Q: Is Fort Hood a good duty station? A: If you want to be part of a high-speed armor/mechanized unit, yes. If you want low optempo and a nice town, no. Fort Cavazos is about the mission—1st Cav is the real deal. Killeen is rough but BAH goes far.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base is better. On-base housing is 5/10 quality with long waitlists. Live in Harker Heights or Nolanville—better schools, safer, 15 min commute, and you'll pocket $300-400/month from BAH.

Q: How bad is Killeen really? A: It's not great. High crime, limited entertainment, typical military town issues. But Harker Heights and Nolanville are fine. Austin is 1 hour if you need culture/food/nightlife.

Q: Can I avoid deployments at Fort Hood? A: Not if you're in a BCT. 1st Cav and III Corps BCTs deploy regularly. Support units deploy less but still do frequent NTC rotations and field training. This is an operational base.

Q: What's the best neighborhood for families? A: Harker Heights (best schools, safest, 15 min commute) or Nolanville (cheaper, still good schools). Avoid Killeen east of I-14 and Copperas Cove.

Q: How hot does it really get? A: 100-110°F June-September, sometimes 115°F+. Budget $250-350/month for AC. You'll adjust but first summer is rough. Winters are mild (50-65°F).

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Yes, but local salaries are low. Healthcare and on-base contracting are best bets. Remote work for Austin/Dallas companies is the play if possible.

Q: What's there to do? A: On-base facilities are solid (pools, gyms, bowling). Belton Lake 20 min away. Austin 1 hour (6th Street, food scene). Dallas/San Antonio 2.5 hours. Killeen itself? Not much.

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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.