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

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Fort Knox is the Army's Human Resources Command and former Armor Center with 8,000 active duty personnel. Home to the U.S. Bullion Depository (yes, the gold vault), this post has evolved from armor training to HRC and initial entry training.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Comfortable fit (E5 BAH covers median 3BR house with $100-300 buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,400/month (affordable for Kentucky)
• School Quality: Live in Meade County (7-8/10) or drive to Oldham County (9/10), avoid Hardin County (5-7/10)

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, Louisville-area local intel, and post mission realities.

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)

---

Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Fort Knox
• Location: Fort Knox, KY (Hardin, Meade, and Bullitt Counties)
• Size: 109,000 acres
• Population: 8,000 active duty + 5,500 civilians + 20,000 family members
• Branch: Army (HRC, Cadet Command, U.S. Army Recruiting Command)
• Major Units: Human Resources Command, 16th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, U.S. Army Cadet Command
• Climate: Hot humid summers (85-95°F), cold winters (20-40°F), four distinct seasons
• Nearest Major City: Louisville, KY (40 miles north)

---

BAH Rates

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

Key Insight: BAH covers rent in Radcliff/Vine Grove (Hardin County) with $100-300 buffer. For better schools, commute 20-30 minutes to Meade County or Oldham County (north toward Louisville). Louisville proper is too far (40-50 min) unless you love long commutes.

---

Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

🏆 Tier 1 - Best for Families (Live Here)

Meade County, KY (Southwest of base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,300/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to main gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Meade County Schools)
• Vibe: Rural, small-town, family-friendly
• Best Areas: Brandenburg area, near Otter Creek Park
• Why: Better schools than Hardin County, quiet, pocket $200-300/month from BAH

Oldham County, KY (North toward Louisville):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,600/month
• Commute: 30-35 minutes to main gate
• Schools: 9/10 (Oldham County Schools - best in area)
• Vibe: Suburban, affluent, horse country
• Best Areas: Crestwood, Pewee Valley, Goshen
• Why: Best schools in region, worth the commute if you have kids, but BAH is tight ($1,600 rent vs $1,700 BAH)

⚠️ Tier 2 - Livable But Research Carefully

Radcliff, KY (Adjacent to base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,200/month
• Commute: 5-10 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Hardin County Schools - hit or miss)
• Vibe: Military town, strip malls, transient feel
• Safe Pockets: West Radcliff (near I-65), newer subdivisions
• Trade-off: Closest commute but schools weaker, military town vibe

Vine Grove, KY (South of base):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,100/month
• Commute: 15 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Hardin County Schools)
• Vibe: Small town, rural, affordable
• Why: Cheaper than Radcliff, pocket $400-500/month, but schools still weak

Elizabethtown (E-town), KY (Southeast):

• Median 3BR Rent: $1,300/month
• Commute: 20-25 minutes to gate
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Hardin County Schools)
• Vibe: Growing town, shopping/dining options
• Why: More amenities than Radcliff, but commute + schools still mediocre

❌ Tier 3 - Avoid Unless You Know What You're Doing

West Point, KY (North side of base):

• Isolated, limited amenities, not worth the savings
• Schools still Hardin County (6/10)

Pro Tip: If you have kids, Meade County (7-8/10 schools) is the sweet spot—20-minute commute, affordable ($1,300 rent), pocket $200-300/month. Oldham County has the best schools (9/10) but expensive ($1,600 rent) and 30-minute commute. Radcliff is convenient but schools are weaker (6-7/10).

---

Schools

Top Elementary Schools

• Eastside Elementary (Meade County) - 8/10 - Brandenburg area
• South Oldham Elementary (Oldham County) - 9/10 - Crestwood
• G.C. Burkhead Elementary (Hardin County) - 7/10 - Radcliff (best of Hardin County)

Top Middle Schools

• Meade County Middle (Meade County) - 7/10 - Brandenburg
• South Oldham Middle (Oldham County) - 9/10 - Crestwood
• North Hardin Middle (Hardin County) - 6/10 - Radcliff

Top High Schools

• Meade County High (Meade County) - 7/10 - Brandenburg
• South Oldham High (Oldham County) - 9/10 - Crestwood (best in area)
• North Hardin High (Hardin County) - 6/10 - Radcliff

Schools to Avoid

• Central Hardin High - 6/10 - Elizabethtown (overcrowded)
• John Hardin High - 6/10 - Elizabethtown

School District Strategy: Oldham County (9/10) is the gold standard but expensive and long commute. Meade County (7-8/10) is the best value—affordable, decent schools, 20-minute commute. Hardin County (Radcliff/E-town) is 6-7/10—livable but not great. Prioritize schools if you have kids.

For live school ratings and neighborhood analysis: Base Navigator →

---

Local Intel (What You Actually Need to Know)

Cost of Living

Overall: -12% lower — More affordable than national average
Housing: -15% lower — BAH covers rent with modest buffer
Groceries: -8% lower — Commissary + off-base savings
Gas: -5% lower — Kentucky gas is cheap

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Meade County): $1,300
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $190
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $140
• Internet/Streaming: $95
• Kids (activities, daycare part-time): $380

Total: ~$2,855/month (E5 BAH + BAS covers housing + groceries, pocket $200-300/month)

State Taxes

• Kentucky: 4.5% state income tax (flat rate)
• Military Benefit: Active duty can claim home state of record (tax advantage if from no-income-tax state)

BAH Reality: E5 with dependents BAH (~$1,700) covers Meade County rent ($1,300) with $400 left over, or Radcliff ($1,200) with $500 left over. Live in Oldham County ($1,600) and pocket $100, but you get 9/10 schools.

Pro Tip: Meade County is the sweet spot—7-8/10 schools, 20-minute commute, pocket $300-400/month. Don't sacrifice schools to live in Radcliff unless you're dual military with tight schedules.

Traffic & Commute

• Rush Hour: 7-8:30am, 4-5:30pm (moderate, not terrible)
• Best Gates: Chaffee Gate (north) for Meade/Oldham, Wilson Road Gate (south) for Radcliff/Vine Grove
• Worst Gate: Brandenburg Gate can back up mornings
• Pro Tip: I-65 north toward Louisville has heavy traffic 7-9am (avoid if living in Oldham County)

Commissary & PX

• Best Times: Weekday mornings, early afternoons
• Worst Times: Weekends (packed), paydays (madhouse)
• Off-Base Alternative: Kroger (everywhere), Walmart (Radcliff/E-town)

Things You Should Know

• Fort Knox = HRC headquarters (enlisted records, promotions, assignments)
• U.S. Bullion Depository (gold vault) is here—you can't visit, it's off-limits
• Not an armor post anymore (that moved to Fort Moore in 2010)
• Cadet Command here = lots of ROTC cadets summer training
• Louisville is 40 min away—great city for weekends (bourbon trail, Churchill Downs, museums)
• Kentucky weather = hot humid summers, cold winters, tornadoes possible spring

Hidden Gems

• Louisville, KY (40 min) - Bourbon trail, Churchill Downs (Kentucky Derby), great food scene
• Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area (15 min) - Hiking, camping, fishing
• Bardstown, KY (30 min) - Bourbon capital, distillery tours
• My Old Kentucky Home State Park (25 min) - Historic site, outdoor theater
• Weekend Trips: Nashville (2.5 hours), Cincinnati (1.5 hours), Mammoth Cave (1 hour)

Areas to Avoid

• West Louisville (high crime, 40 min away anyway)
• Avoid Radcliff late at night (some sketchy areas near gate)

---

What's It Like to Live at Fort Knox?

Fort Knox is NOT the armor post it used to be. Armor training moved to Fort Moore (Fort Benning) in 2010. Now Fort Knox is home to Human Resources Command (HRC), which means lots of personnel specialists, assignments officers, and administrative staff. It's also home to U.S. Army Cadet Command (ROTC) and U.S. Army Recruiting Command. The vibe is more "office job" than "combat arms post."

Mission Reality:

• HRC Staff: CONUS desk job—minimal deployments
• Cadet Command: Cadre for ROTC summer training—occasional TDY, no combat deployments
• Support Units: Moderate deployment tempo (logistics, sustainment units)
• Students: Constant turnover (basic training recruits, ROTC cadets)

Quality of Life:

• Affordable: BAH covers rent with $100-400 buffer depending on area
• School Divide: Oldham County (9/10) vs Meade County (7-8/10) vs Hardin County (6-7/10)
• Location: 40 min to Louisville (great city for weekends, bourbon trail)
• Weather: Four seasons, hot humid summer, cold winter, tornadoes possible spring

The Good:

• Louisville is a great city (40 min away—bourbon, food, culture)
• BAH covers rent with modest savings ($100-400/month)
• Meade County schools are solid (7-8/10)
• Low cost of living (groceries, gas, utilities cheap)
• Not a combat arms post—desk jobs, predictable schedules

The Not-So-Good:

• Radcliff is a depressing military town (strip malls, fast food, transient)
• Hardin County schools are mediocre (6-7/10)
• HRC mission = desk job vibe (if you like field time, you'll hate it)
• Summer heat + humidity is oppressive (90-95°F, 80% humidity)
• Commute to Louisville is too far for daily work (40-50 min each way)

---

Cost of Living Breakdown

Cost of Living

Overall: -12% lower — More affordable than national average
Housing: -15% lower — BAH covers rent with buffer
Groceries: -8% lower — Commissary + Kroger cheap
Transportation: -5% lower — Gas cheaper, car insurance reasonable

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base in Meade County): $1,300
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $190
• Groceries: $750
• Gas (commute + errands): $140
• Internet/Cable: $95
• Childcare (part-time): $380
• Car Insurance: $140
• Misc (restaurants, entertainment): $180

Total: ~$3,175/month
E5 BAH + BAS: ~$3,500/month (covers housing + food, pocket $325)

BAH Coverage: E5 BAH (~$1,700) covers Meade County rent ($1,300) with $400 left over. Live in Radcliff ($1,200) and pocket $500. Live in Oldham County ($1,600) for best schools (9/10) and pocket $100.

Savings Potential: Modest—pocket $200-400/month depending on location. Meade County is the sweet spot (decent schools + savings). Oldham County drains BAH but delivers 9/10 schools.

Pro Tips:

• Meade County = best value (7-8/10 schools, pocket $300-400/month)
• Oldham County = best schools (9/10) but expensive ($1,600 rent)
• Commissary saves 20-30% vs off-base (use it)
• Louisville has great food/entertainment but budget for it (bourbon trail ain't free)

---

Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality: Fort Knox area (Radcliff/E-town) has limited civilian jobs—mostly retail, healthcare, or education. Louisville (40 min away) has a strong job market (healthcare, manufacturing, bourbon industry), but the commute is long for daily work. Remote work is your best bet if you want flexibility and decent pay.

Top Spouse Employers:

1. On-Base Contractors: Serco, KBR, CACI (admin, IT, HR support - $40K-70K)
2. Healthcare: Hardin Memorial Hospital (RN $60K-75K, admin $32K-48K)
3. Education: Meade County Schools, Hardin County Schools (teachers start $40K)
4. Louisville Healthcare (40 min) - UofL Health, Norton Healthcare (RN $65K-80K)
5. Retail: Walmart, Target, Kroger (flexible hours, $24K-32K)
6. Remote Work: Best option—work for Louisville/Cincinnati/Nashville companies remotely

Average Spouse Salaries:

• Healthcare (RN): $60,000-75,000
• On-base contractor (admin/IT): $40,000-70,000
• Teaching (KY): $40,000-50,000
• Retail management: $26,000-36,000
• Remote work (varies): $42,000-68,000

Military Spouse Preference:

• Fort Knox has large NAF workforce (CDC, fitness, MWR)
• Army Community Service has job assistance programs
• MyCAA grants available for education/certifications
• Louisville job market is strong but 40-minute commute daily is rough

Childcare Situation:

• CDC Waitlist: 6-12 months (get on list at PCS orders)
• Off-Base Daycare: $140-200/week per child (moderate)
• FCC (Family Child Care): On-base home providers, $120-180/week
• School-Age: Before/after school programs $90-140/week

For Families:

• Schools: Oldham County (9/10) or Meade County (7-8/10) - prioritize this
• Activities: Louisville (Churchill Downs, museums, bourbon trail 40 min away)
• Support: Strong spouse community (HRC = stable families, not transient combat arms)

---

Common Questions About Fort Knox

Q: Is Fort Knox a good duty station? A: Depends on your MOS. If you're HRC staff or Cadet Command, yes—stable CONUS job, no deployments, near Louisville. If you're combat arms expecting field time, no—this is a desk job post. Housing is affordable, Louisville is a great city 40 min away, and schools are decent in Meade/Oldham Counties. It's a solid "raise a family" assignment.

Q: Should I live on-base or off-base? A: Off-base is better for most. On-base housing is 7/10 quality with waitlists. Live in Meade County ($1,300 rent, 7-8/10 schools) and pocket $300-400/month. Only live on-base if you're brand new to the Army or love the convenience.

Q: What's the difference between Meade County and Oldham County? A: Oldham County has the best schools in the region (9/10) but costs more ($1,600 rent) and is a 30-minute commute. Meade County has good schools (7-8/10), cheaper rent ($1,300), and a 20-minute commute. Most families pick Meade County—best value. Oldham County is worth it if schools are your #1 priority.

Q: How bad is Radcliff? A: It's a typical military town—strip malls, fast food, pawn shops, transient feel. Not dangerous, just depressing. Schools are weaker (6-7/10 Hardin County). If you're dual military and need a 5-minute commute, Radcliff works. Otherwise, drive 20 minutes to Meade County for better quality of life.

Q: Can I avoid deployments at Fort Knox? A: Mostly yes. If you're at HRC, Cadet Command, or Recruiting Command, deployments are rare (CONUS desk jobs). If you're in a support unit (logistics, sustainment), deployment tempo is moderate (6-9 months every 2-3 years). This isn't Fort Bragg—deployment tempo is low.

Q: Is Louisville worth living in (40 min commute)? A: For daily work, no—40-50 minute commute each way is brutal. But for weekends, yes—Louisville is a great city (bourbon trail, Churchill Downs, museums, food scene). Most people live halfway (Meade County or Oldham County) and drive to Louisville on weekends.

Q: Can my spouse find work? A: Limited in Fort Knox area (Radcliff/E-town). On-base contractor jobs pay $40K-70K (admin, IT, HR). Healthcare (RN) pays $60K-75K. Teaching pays $40K-50K. Louisville (40 min away) has strong job market but daily commute is rough. Remote work is the best option—many spouses work remotely for Louisville/Cincinnati/Nashville companies.

Q: What's the cost of living? A: 12% below national average. BAH covers rent with $200-400 buffer depending on location. Gas, groceries, utilities all affordable. You can save modest money here ($200-400/month) if you're disciplined. Not as cheap as Fort Sill, but cheaper than most posts.

---

Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

This guide gave you the local intel. Now use our premium tools to execute:

1. Interactive Data (Live Updates)

Base Navigator →

• Real-time housing prices
• Current school ratings
• Weather patterns
• Neighborhood rankings

2. Your Personal PCS Plan

PCS Copilot →

• Custom 180-day timeline
• Document checklist
• JTR-compliant entitlements
• Finance office ready

Planning your PCS? Our PCS Copilot → generates your custom 180-day timeline with JTR-compliant entitlements and finance-office-ready documentation.

Based on Joint Travel Regulations (JTR). Official regulations →

3. Paycheck Audit

LES Auditor →

• Scan for missing entitlements
• BAH/BAS verification
• Tax withholding check

4. Ask the Expert

Ask Military Expert →

• Fort Knox-specific questions
• Spouse employment intel
• School district comparisons

---

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: 2025-01-15. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.