Moving to Fort Leavenworth
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Leavenworth, Kansas.
Fort Leavenworth, on the Missouri River in Kansas, is the Army’s "Intellectual Center," home to the Command and General Staff College. Families PCSing here, often mid-career officers, settle in Leavenworth and Lansing near the gate or commute from the Kansas City suburbs, in an affordable market with a strong sense of history.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing is popular and often historic given the officer-heavy population, with waitlists on the best homes. Off-post, Leavenworth sits right outside the gate with the most affordable options, Lansing offers newer suburban homes and strong schools, and the northern Kansas City suburbs draw families wanting big-city amenities about 30 to 40 minutes away.
Where military families live near Fort Leavenworth
Families PCSing to Fort Leavenworth most often settle in Leavenworth, Lansing, KC Northland suburbs. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.
| Area | 3-bed rent | Home prices | To gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leavenworth | $1,100-$1,600 | $190k-$290k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate; historic and most affordable. |
| Lansing | $1,250-$1,750 | $240k-$340k | 10-20 min | Newer suburban homes and strong schools just south. |
| KC Northland suburbs | $1,400-$1,950 | $280k-$400k | 30-40 min | Big-city amenities about 30 to 40 minutes east. |
2026 BAH near Fort Leavenworth
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Leavenworth is set by the KS102 (Fort Leavenworth, KS) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,815 | $1,569 |
| E-7 | $2,229 | $1,737 |
| O-3 | $2,394 | $2,013 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Leavenworth
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing High School | High | Lansing USD 469 | Lansing |
| Leavenworth High School | High | Leavenworth USD 453 | Leavenworth |
| MacArthur Elementary | Elementary | Fort Leavenworth USD 207 | Fort Leavenworth |
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Should I live on or off post at Fort Leavenworth?
Many officers choose the historic on-post housing, which is a draw at Leavenworth, though the best homes carry waitlists. Off-post, Lansing offers newer homes and strong schools, and Leavenworth is the most affordable. Because many families are here for a one-year course, renting is common, but the low prices also make buying viable.
How far is Fort Leavenworth from Kansas City?
Fort Leavenworth is about 30 to 40 minutes northwest of downtown Kansas City. Most families live close to the gate in Leavenworth or Lansing for the short commute and lower prices, but some choose the northern KC suburbs for big-city amenities and accept the longer daily drive.
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