Fort Hood
Verified profile · 2026-07-01Killeen, TX · ~36,500 assigned
Formerly Fort Cavazos (2023–2025) — some sources may still reference the prior name.
Installation overview
BAH Cost Index
0.92
Median Home Price
$285,000
Average Commute
12–22 min
VA Loan Activity
High
What this installation is
A mission summary for this installation hasn't been written yet.
Editorial guidanceWritten for context, not sourced from official DoD mission statements — see methodology.
BAH & cost of living
Typical monthly BAH at Fort Hood
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E4 | $1,662 | $1,452 |
| E6 | $1,920 | $1,677 |
| O3 | $2,340 | $2,043 |
VerifiedReal 2026 DFAS with-dependents rate. Without-dependents figures are estimated — see the full BAH Calculator.
Full calculatorHousing market snapshot
Median home price
$285,000
Average commute
12–22 min
VA loan activity
HighHigh VA loan activity here usually means agents and lenders are used to VA timelines and appraisal requirements — that's a real advantage over an installation where VA loans are rare.
Compare buying vs. rentingWhere families live
Sort by what matters to you — price, commute, or our recommended order.
VerifiedReviewed by the panel credited at the top of this page — commute and price ranges are directional, not guaranteed for any specific address.
Harker Heights
- Commute
- 10–15 min
- Median price
- $310,000
Best fit: Newer construction, top-rated schools
Schools serving this area
- Reeces Creek Elementary — Above Average
- Union Grove Middle School — Above Average
Killeen (near post)
- Commute
- 5–12 min
- Median price
- $240,000
Best fit: Shortest commute, strong rental market
Schools serving this area
- Killeen High School — Average
Nolanville
- Commute
- 15–20 min
- Median price
- $275,000
Best fit: Quieter, growing family neighborhoods
Schools serving this area
- Union Grove Middle School — Above Average
Copperas Cove
- Commute
- 18–25 min
- Median price
- $255,000
Best fit: Lower cost, larger lots
Schools families ask about most
Reeces Creek Elementary
elementary school
Popular with incoming families in Harker Heights; frequently mentioned by relocating spouses. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 1 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Union Grove Middle School
middle school
Newer campus serving the Harker Heights / Nolanville corridor. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 2 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Killeen High School
high school
Largest zoned high school nearest post; wide range of programs. Commute implication: this is the zoned option for families living in 1 of the neighborhoods above.
Editorial guidanceEducational-fit notes, not an official state rating.
Who's building here
Heritage Family Homes
Military-focusedRegional builder active near Fort Hood with a dedicated military-buyer program and VA-loan-friendly closing timelines.
- Typical price positioning
- $260k–$340k
- Construction style
- Single-family, slab foundation, 3–5 bed floor plans
- Best-fit buyer
- First-time buyers using a VA loan who want a quick, predictable close before a report date.
Editorial guidanceNot a paid placement — see methodology.
Your relocation, step by step
Orders in hand, plan the move
- Confirm report date and entitlements with your losing unit's admin section
- Decide buy, rent, or wait-and-see for your destination
- Start a PCS folder: orders, LES, dependents' records
Common mistake: Waiting on the housing decision until move week — the best rentals and quick-close new builds get taken early.
Lock the logistics
- Schedule your HHG shipment (or start a PPM/DITY estimate)
- Line up financing pre-approval if buying
- Start the lease or purchase process at your destination
Common mistake: Booking movers at the last minute during peak PCS season (May–August), when good dates disappear fast.
Final details
- Confirm final walkthrough / turnover for on-post housing if applicable
- Transfer or schedule utility disconnect/connect dates
- Update your address with DEERS, banks, and insurance
Common mistake: Forgetting to schedule utility connection at the new home in advance — showing up to a house with no power is common and avoidable.
Get settled
- In-process at your gaining unit and register at the newcomers office
- Enroll kids in school and register vehicles if required by the state
- Confirm your BAH rate actually reflects your new duty station and dependency status
Common mistake: Not double-checking that BAH updated correctly on the first LES at the new station — pay errors are common right after a PCS.
Financing this move
Purchase information first, refinancing later — the order a relocating family actually needs it.
Eligibility
VA Loan Eligibility & Entitlement
Who qualifies, how entitlement is calculated, and how to pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
Read moreBuying here
Already have a VA loan?
The VA IRRRL Refinance
A streamlined refinance for veterans who already have a VA loan — when it helps and when it doesn't.
Read moreLooking for loan assumption or SCRA protections? Those live in the full VA Loan Center.
What a local would tell you
Traffic, weather, utilities, and the things that don't show up in a listing.
Local intelligence for this installation hasn’t been written yet — this section will fill in as the profile is built out.
Worth reading before you move
SCRA Protections During a PCS
Lease termination rights and interest rate caps every service member should know.
6 min read · Reviewed by Legal review panel
Leaving the Military: A Housing Timeline for Separation
You're not PCSing to a new duty station — here's what to plan for instead, and when.
9 min read · Reviewed by Transition & VA lending panel
Shipping Your Pet and Vehicle During a PCS
What the military covers, what you pay for, and the quarantine paperwork that trips people up.
7 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
Dual-Military PCS: Getting Stationed Together
Join-spouse programs improve your odds of co-location — they don't guarantee it.
7 min read · Reviewed by PCS relocation panel
What to do next
Not a funnel — pick whichever actually moves you forward.
Two partners, only if you need them
Homebird
A PCS often means selling at your losing base and buying — or renting — at your gaining one, on a fixed timeline. Homebird runs the whole thing as one coordinated move: sourcing your listing agent and purchasing agent, a right-fit lender, movers, insurance, and getting your new place actually livable — utilities, internet, and home security — whether or not you have an employer relocation benefit.
- 1.Sell your current home — Listing agent sourced and managed for you.
- 2.Buy or rent at your next base — A purchasing agent who knows the area.
- 3.Move in and get connected — Movers, insurance, utilities, internet, and home security — coordinated on your timeline, not pieced together after you arrive.
Opens www.homebird.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage
Salute Mortgage is our financing partner for VA-eligible buyers — including as the right-fit lender inside a Homebird-coordinated move. Check eligibility, run the numbers, and talk to a licensed loan officer when you're ready, not before.
- 1.Confirm eligibility — Pull your Certificate of Eligibility.
- 2.Run the numbers — Compare VA financing against conventional.
- 3.Talk to a loan officer — Only when you're ready to move forward.
Opens salutemortgage.com in a new tab.
Salute Mortgage LLC — Company NMLS #2601951. Licensed in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. This is not an offer to enter into an agreement; not all customers will qualify; rates and programs are subject to change without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity. NMLS Consumer Access.