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

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning until 2023) is home to the Maneuver Center of Excellence with 35,000 soldiers and 50,000 family members, serving as the Infantry and Armor School.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH comfortably covers median 3BR with good buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,150/month (very affordable)
• School Quality: Variable—Harris County, GA (7-8/10) excellent, Muscogee County, GA (5-6/10) mixed, Russell County, AL (4-5/10) weak
• Cost of Living: 10% below national average

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, and Columbus-area military life intel.

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Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Fort Moore (renamed from Fort Benning May 2023)
• Location: Columbus, GA / Phenix City, AL (Muscogee County, GA + Russell County, AL)
• Size: 182,000 acres (Georgia's largest military installation)
• Population: 35,000 soldiers + 50,000 family members
• Branch: Army (Maneuver Center of Excellence)
• Major Units: Maneuver Center of Excellence, Infantry School, Armor School, 75th Ranger Regiment, 3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division, 199th Infantry Brigade (BCT)
• Climate: Humid subtropical - hot humid summers (85-98°F), mild winters (35-60°F)
• Nearest Major City: Columbus, GA (adjacent), Atlanta (110 miles north)

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 →

Reality Check: For E5 with dependents, BAH comfortably covers all areas with significant buffer remaining. Fort Moore has excellent BAH-to-rent ratio. Harris County (GA side, best schools) fits well within BAH. Muscogee County (Columbus) very affordable. Most families pocket $300-500/month after rent.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

Top Tier - Best Value

1. Harris County, GA (North of Base)

• Median Rent: $1,200/month (3BR house)
• Commute: 15-25 min to main gate
• Schools: 7-8/10 (Harris County Schools - best in area)
• Why It's Good: Best schools, safe, family-oriented, newer construction, worth the commute
• Watch Out For: Slightly farther commute, more rural than Columbus

2. North Columbus, GA (Muscogee County)

• Median Rent: $1,100/month
• Commute: 10-15 min to gates
• Schools: 6-7/10 (Muscogee County - variable by specific school)
• Why It's Good: Affordable, close to base, established neighborhoods
• Watch Out For: School quality varies significantly—research exact assignments

3. Midland, GA (Muscogee County)

• Median Rent: $1,150/month
• Commute: 10-15 min to main gate
• Schools: 6/10 (Muscogee County)
• Why It's Good: Close to base, quiet, affordable, safe
• Watch Out For: Very small town, limited amenities

Avoid / Know What You're Getting Into

Phenix City, AL (Russell County - across river)

• Why Know: Close (5-15 min) but poorest schools (4-5/10), higher crime than GA side
• Rent: $1,000-1,050 (cheapest option)
• Reality: Not worth the savings—school quality and safety concerns. Live on GA side.

South Columbus, GA

• Why Avoid: High crime, poor schools (4-5/10), aging housing
• Rent: $950-1,000
• Reality: Avoid—safety issues

On-Base Housing

Fort Moore Family Housing (managed by Balfour Beatty Communities)

• Availability: Moderate waitlist (4-7 months typical)
• Quality: Mix of older and renovated 2-4 BR homes
• Pros: Zero commute, no rent out-of-pocket, utilities included, on-base schools
• Cons: Waitlist, older homes despite renovations, humidity/heat on-base, management issues reported
• Wait List: E5-E6 typically 5-7 months
• Verdict: Good option for saving BAH buffer and convenience

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Schools

Best School Districts:

Harris County Schools (GA - North of Base, Top Choice)

• Rating: 7-8/10
• Standout Schools:
  • Harris County High School (8/10)
  • Harris County Intermediate School (7/10)
• Why Good: Best schools in Fort Moore area, strong academics, safe, high graduation rates
• Reality: Worth the 15-25 min commute for families with school-age kids
• Link: Harris County Schools

Muscogee County School District (Columbus, GA)

• Rating: 5-6/10 (highly variable by specific school)
• Standout Schools:
  • Jordan High School (6/10)
  • Northside High School (6/10)
• Why Variable: District struggles overall but individual schools vary significantly
• Reality: Research exact address school assignments carefully

Schools to Avoid:

Russell County Schools (Phenix City, AL)

• Rating: 4-5/10
• Why Avoid: Low test scores, funding challenges, poor graduation rates
• Reality: This alone is reason to live on GA side, not AL side

DoDEA Schools On Base:

Fort Moore Elementary (K-5)
Faith Middle School (6-8)

DoDEA Quality: 6-7/10, convenient for on-base residents, better than Phenix City but not as strong as Harris County.

Pro Tip: Live in Harris County, GA if you have school-age kids and can tolerate 15-25 min commute. Worth it for 7-8/10 schools. Avoid Phenix City, AL entirely (poor schools, higher crime).

For detailed school intelligence and real-time ratings: Base Navigator →

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Local Intel

Cost of Living

Overall: 10% lower — Affordable Southeast
Housing: 18% lower — BAH goes very far
Groceries: 8% lower — Commissary + Publix
Utilities: 15% higher — AC mandatory summer
Gas: At average — GA/AL fuel prices

Traffic & Commute

• Morning Rush: 7-8:30 AM moderate on US-27, US-280, Victory Drive
• Afternoon Rush: 4-6 PM moderate
• Reality: Columbus traffic is minimal. 10-25 min commutes are normal. Atlanta (110 miles) is 2-hour weekend trip.

Weather Reality

• Summer: 85-98°F, very humid, frequent thunderstorms
• Winter: 35-60°F, mild, occasional light snow/ice
• Reality: Hot humid summers (AC mandatory May-Sep). Mild winters. Prepare for 90%+ humidity summer.

Commissary & Shopping

• Commissary: On-base, well-stocked, weekday mornings best
• Publix: Multiple Columbus locations, good prices
• Walmart: Columbus, Phenix City locations
• Peachtree Mall: Main shopping (Columbus)

Things to Do

• Whitewater Rafting: Chattahoochee River (Columbus Riverwalk), world-class urban rapids
• Columbus Riverwalk: 15-mile paved trail, outdoor activities
• Callaway Gardens: 45 min, gardens, zip lines, beach
• Atlanta: 110 miles, pro sports (Falcons, Braves, Hawks), entertainment
• Providence Canyon: 2 hours, "Little Grand Canyon of Georgia"
• Warm Springs, GA: FDR Little White House, historic site

What to Avoid

• Don't: Live in Phenix City, AL (poor schools, higher crime)
• Don't: Live in south Columbus (high crime)
• Don't: Underestimate summer humidity (90%+ is oppressive)

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What's It Like to Live at Fort Moore?

Fort Moore is a Southern infantry post with manageable quality of life shaped by Georgia/Alabama border location, Infantry School mission, and Ranger culture.

Deployment Tempo:

• 75th Ranger Regiment: Extremely high—constant rotations, most deployed unit in Army
• 3rd Brigade 3rd Infantry Division: High—regular 9-12 month deployments
• Infantry/Armor School: Low—instructors stay CONUS, students are transient
• Reality: Depends on unit. Rangers deploy constantly. Infantry Brigade deploys regularly. School cadre stay home.

Quality of Life Assessment: 6.5/10

Pros:

• Very affordable (BAH stretches far, low cost of living)
• Strong military community (large installation, Ranger culture)
• Columbus improving (revitalized downtown, Riverwalk)
• Good schools available (Harris County)

Cons:

• Hot humid summers (oppressive)
• School quality varies significantly by location
• Limited big-city amenities (Columbus is mid-size, Atlanta 2 hours)
• Ranger culture intense (high deployment tempo for some units)

The Verdict: Fort Moore is solid for families who value affordability, military community, and don't mind heat/humidity. It's not ideal if you need top schools everywhere, big-city culture, or hate humidity.

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base): $1,150
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $220
• Groceries: $650
• Gas/Transportation: $250
• Childcare (1 child, if needed): $650
• Internet/Phone: $140
• Misc/Entertainment: $280
• Total: $3,340

BAH vs. Reality:

BAH Coverage: Excellent—BAH easily covers rent with $350-550/month buffer remaining. Fort Moore offers one of the best financial situations for junior enlisted in the Army.

State Tax Reality:

Georgia: Low to moderate state income tax (1-5.75% progressive). E5 with family pays ~$900-1,300/year in state taxes.

Savings Potential:

Excellent. With BAH covering housing plus significant buffer and low cost of living, families easily save $400-600/month if disciplined.

Money-Saving Tips:

1. Pocket BAH buffer: Rent well below BAH—save $350-550/month
2. Shop Publix sales: Often beats commissary, BOGO deals
3. Use base facilities: Free gyms, pools, youth programs
4. Avoid Atlanta trips: Easy to blow budget on weekend city trips
5. Fish Chattahoochee: Free fishing, supplement groceries

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality:

Columbus has a moderate but limited job market dominated by military, healthcare, education, and manufacturing.

Realistic Expectations:

• Fort Moore is largest employer in region (civilian jobs on base)
• Healthcare at Piedmont Columbus Regional
• Manufacturing (Aflac, TSYS, Synovus)
• Remote work good option if you have skills

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Fort Moore Civilian Jobs: Admin, medical, IT, education ($18-34/hr)
2. Piedmont Columbus Regional: Nurses, medical admin, healthcare ($19-35/hr)
3. Muscogee County / Harris County Schools: Teachers, paraprofessionals, admin ($15-24/hr)
4. Aflac / TSYS / Synovus: Corporate positions, admin ($17-30/hr)
5. Remote Work: Best option for professionals (tech, marketing, finance)

Military Spouse Preference:

Fort Moore has extremely active MSP hiring (large installation). Apply early and often on USAJobs.

Childcare Reality:

• CDC Waitlist: 5-9 months typical, get on list early
• CDC Cost: $150-260/week based on rank
• Off-Base Daycare: $550-750/month, more availability than CDC
• Family Childcare (FCC): Home providers on base, shorter waitlist

Family Activities & Support:

• ACS (Army Community Service): Employment assistance, financial counseling, deployment support (critical for Ranger families)
• Fort Moore Spouses' Club: Active community, scholarships, events
• Youth Services: Sports, camps, pools
• MWR: Outdoor recreation, Victory Pond (beach), bowling, movie theater

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Common Questions About Fort Moore

Q: Is it still called Fort Benning?
A: Officially renamed Fort Moore in May 2023 to honor Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and his wife Julia. Many still say Benning out of habit.

Q: Should I live in Phenix City, AL or Columbus, GA?
A: Georgia side. Harris County has best schools (7-8/10). Phenix City has poorest schools (4-5/10) and higher crime. Always choose GA.

Q: Will BAH cover housing?
A: Easily. Fort Moore has excellent BAH-to-rent ratio. You'll have $350-550/month left over after rent.

Q: What about schools?
A: Critical decision. Harris County, GA is best (7-8/10). Muscogee County variable (5-6/10). Russell County, AL poorest (4-5/10). Live in Harris County if possible.

Q: How often do soldiers deploy from Fort Moore?
A: Depends on unit. 75th Rangers deploy constantly (most deployed unit). Infantry Brigade deploys regularly (9-12 months every 2-3 years). School cadre stay CONUS.

Q: How's the summer heat?
A: Hot and humid. 85-98°F with 90%+ humidity May-September. AC runs constantly. It's oppressive.

Q: Is Fort Moore family-friendly?
A: Yes. Large installation with strong family support, affordable, good schools available (Harris County). Deployment support is excellent (necessary for Ranger families).

Q: What's there to do?
A: Columbus Riverwalk (whitewater rafting, trails), Callaway Gardens, Atlanta 2 hours. Outdoor recreation heavy.

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Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

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Last Updated: November 11, 2025
Next Review: February 2026

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