Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos): 2026 BAH, On-Post Housing and Neighborhoods
An E-5 with dependents at Fort Hood receives $1,695 a month in BAH for 2026 ($1,530 without dependents) in the Fort Hood, TX (TX286) area. The most affordable of 19 mapped Killeen neighborhoods with enough recent sales are North Killeen ($128,955), Killeen Heights ($144,250), Pershing Place ($156,945). Estimated mortgage payments in those areas run $1,079 to $1,314 a month.
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2026 BAH rates at Fort Hood, E-1 to O-10
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,662 | $1,374 |
| E-2 | $1,662 | $1,374 |
| E-3 | $1,662 | $1,374 |
| E-4 | $1,662 | $1,374 |
| E-5 | $1,695 | $1,530 |
| E-6 | $1,920 | $1,626 |
| E-7 | $2,070 | $1,668 |
| E-8 | $2,238 | $1,746 |
| E-9 | $2,409 | $1,806 |
| W-1 | $1,938 | $1,665 |
| W-2 | $2,139 | $1,743 |
| W-3 | $2,346 | $1,812 |
| W-4 | $2,433 | $1,950 |
| W-5 | $2,544 | $2,109 |
| O-1E | $2,100 | $1,692 |
| O-2E | $2,313 | $1,788 |
| O-3E | $2,451 | $1,908 |
| O-1 | $1,731 | $1,623 |
| O-2 | $1,917 | $1,689 |
| O-3 | $2,340 | $1,833 |
| O-4 | $2,577 | $2,076 |
| O-5 | $2,748 | $2,169 |
| O-6 | $2,769 | $2,325 |
| O-7 to O-10 | $2,787 | $2,361 |
On-post housing at Fort Hood
How it works
Fort Hood's family housing has been privatized since 2001 under the Army's Residential Communities Initiative. The Military Housing Office oversees the private partner and handles tenant-landlord disputes.
Who runs it
Cavalry Family Housing (private partner: Lendlease)
The waitlist
Published guidance says waits can run from about two weeks to 12 months depending on occupancy, rank and bedroom count. Apply within 30 days of arriving so your eligibility date goes back to your departure date from your last duty station.
Who can live there
Service members E-1 and above with a family housing requirement may apply.
Who to call
- Housing Services Office: 254-285-2313
Official housing page: Military OneSource, Fort Hood housing. Phone numbers and wait times change, so confirm before you rely on them.
Off-post neighborhoods near Fort Hood, adjusted for your BAH
Tal Coe Place
Rose
Temple Heights
Morris
Bonner Terrace
Castle Heights
Sugar Loaf Estates
South Meadows
Chimney Hill Estates
Heather Glen
West Ridge Estates
Chantz
Stratford
Texas West
Trimmier Estates
Jasper Heights
House Creek North
Clear Creek Estates
Purser Crossing
White Rock Estates
Can you buy near Fort Hood on BAH alone?
| Pay grade | BAH | Payment, median home | Gap | Neighborhoods covered | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-4 | $1,662 | $1,740 | -$78 | 7 of 19 | BAH covers 7 of 19 neighborhoods, but not the median home. |
| E-5 | $1,695 | $1,740 | -$45 | 7 of 19 | BAH covers 7 of 19 neighborhoods, but not the median home. |
| E-6 | $1,920 | $1,740 | +$180 | 10 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 10 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| E-7 | $2,070 | $1,740 | +$330 | 12 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 12 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| E-8 | $2,238 | $1,740 | +$498 | 13 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 13 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| E-9 | $2,409 | $1,740 | +$669 | 16 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 16 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| W-1 | $1,938 | $1,740 | +$198 | 10 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 10 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| W-2 | $2,139 | $1,740 | +$399 | 12 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 12 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| W-3 | $2,346 | $1,740 | +$606 | 15 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 15 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| W-4 | $2,433 | $1,740 | +$693 | 17 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 17 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| W-5 | $2,544 | $1,740 | +$804 | 17 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 17 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| O-1 | $1,731 | $1,740 | -$9 | 8 of 19 | BAH covers 8 of 19 neighborhoods, but not the median home. |
| O-2 | $1,917 | $1,740 | +$177 | 10 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 10 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| O-3 | $2,340 | $1,740 | +$600 | 14 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 14 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| O-4 | $2,577 | $1,740 | +$837 | 17 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 17 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| O-5 | $2,748 | $1,740 | +$1,008 | 17 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 17 of 19 neighborhoods. |
| O-6 | $2,769 | $1,740 | +$1,029 | 17 of 19 | BAH covers the median home and 17 of 19 neighborhoods. |
The most affordable well-sampled neighborhoods
| Neighborhood | Median price | Recent sales | Est. payment | BAH needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Killeen | $128,955 | 20 | $1,079 | first covered at E-1 to E-4 |
| Killeen Heights | $144,250 | 6 | $1,208 | first covered at E-1 to E-4 |
| Pershing Place | $156,945 | 8 | $1,314 | first covered at E-1 to E-4 |
Frequently asked questions about Fort Hood housing
How much is BAH for an E-5 with dependents at Fort Hood in 2026?
In the Fort Hood, TX (TX286) military housing area, the 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $1,695 a month and $1,530 without dependents. The full table for every pay grade is above on this page.
Source: DoD Defense Travel Management Office, BAH Rate Lookup
Is BAH enough to cover a mortgage in Killeen?
The median home price in Killeen is about $207,874. With 10% down, a 7% rate, a 30-year loan, plus property tax, insurance and mortgage insurance, that is roughly $1,740 a month. An E-5 with dependents gets $1,695 in BAH, so the median home comes in about $45 a month over BAH. Your own number depends on your rate, down payment and the specific home. VA loans can change the math, since they allow zero down.
Source: Median price: Redfin / NeighborSeek market data; tax rate: Census ACS 2023
Is Fort Hood the same as Fort Cavazos?
Fort Hood is the current official name. The installation was renamed Fort Cavazos for a period and reverted to Fort Hood in 2025, so older orders, listings and searches may still use Fort Cavazos. BAH is set by the housing area, not the name.
How long is the on-post housing waitlist at Fort Hood?
Published guidance says waits can run from about two weeks to 12 months depending on occupancy, rank and bedroom count. Apply within 30 days of arriving so your eligibility date goes back to your departure date from your last duty station.
Who runs on-post housing at Fort Hood and who do I call?
Cavalry Family Housing (private partner: Lendlease). Fort Hood's family housing has been privatized since 2001 under the Army's Residential Communities Initiative. The Military Housing Office oversees the private partner and handles tenant-landlord disputes. Numbers: Housing Services Office: 254-285-2313. Confirm numbers and wait times before relying on them.
Do I still get BAH if I live in privatized housing at Fort Hood?
In privatized on-post housing you generally keep receiving BAH and it goes to the housing company as rent, so you usually do not also pay a separate mortgage or rent. Utilities and renter's insurance are usually separate. Confirm the exact terms with the leasing office before you sign.
Source: DoD BAH Rate Lookup
Can I use a VA loan to buy a home near Fort Hood?
Yes. VA-backed loans are available to eligible service members and veterans, typically with no down payment requirement and no monthly mortgage insurance, though a one-time VA funding fee usually applies unless you are exempt. Property tax in Killeen runs about 1.64% of home value per year (Census ACS 2023), which matters when you compare payment to BAH. A lender can confirm your eligibility and entitlement.
Which Killeen neighborhoods are the most affordable for Fort Hood families?
By median home price, the three lowest of the 19 mapped Killeen neighborhoods in our data are North Killeen ($128,955), Killeen Heights ($144,250), Pershing Place ($156,945). Price is not the whole picture: commute, schools and your own budget matter, and crime on this page is a citywide grade, not neighborhood-level. Use the neighborhood list above with your own pay grade.
Source: Redfin neighborhood medians, Jan-Jun 2026; FBI UCR 2025
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