Fort Campbell: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,815/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,871 (HUD FY2026). About $56/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $318,644 in Montgomery County TN (Clarksville) (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $2,548/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,496/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Campbell
2026 BAH at Fort Campbell
Military Housing Area KY106: Fort Campbell, KY. Duty ZIP 42223. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,743 | $1,470 |
| E-2 | $1,743 | $1,470 |
| E-3 | $1,743 | $1,470 |
| E-4 | $1,743 | $1,470 |
| E-5 | $1,815 | $1,593 |
| E-6 | $2,100 | $1,671 |
| E-7 | $2,244 | $1,743 |
| E-8 | $2,400 | $1,878 |
| E-9 | $2,580 | $1,956 |
| W-1 | $2,121 | $1,731 |
| W-2 | $2,307 | $1,875 |
| W-3 | $2,499 | $1,968 |
| W-4 | $2,610 | $2,130 |
| W-5 | $2,751 | $2,277 |
| O-1E | $2,271 | $1,812 |
| O-2E | $2,472 | $1,938 |
| O-3E | $2,634 | $2,091 |
| O-1 | $1,857 | $1,668 |
| O-2 | $2,097 | $1,794 |
| O-3 | $2,496 | $1,995 |
| O-4 | $2,793 | $2,250 |
| O-5 | $3,006 | $2,334 |
| O-6 | $3,030 | $2,478 |
| O-7+ | $3,048 | $2,520 |
Rent near Fort Campbell
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,090 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,094 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,346 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,871 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,258 |
Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area (Montgomery County TN (Clarksville)). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,371.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $318,644 (Zillow ZHVI, Montgomery County TN (Clarksville), Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $325,495 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $2,254/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $162/mo (0.61% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $133/mo
- Total (est.)
- $2,548/mo
- 2026 loan limit
- $832,750 (only matters with partial entitlement)
All numbers are estimates for planning. BAH: DTMO 2026. Rent: HUD FY2026 FMR. Home value: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rate: Freddie Mac 7.4% (2026-10-15). Tax: Census ACS county median. Insurance: our placeholder (0.5% of value, min $1,200/yr), not a quote.
FAQ
What is the 2026 BAH at Fort Campbell?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,815 a month; without dependents $1,593. O-3 with dependents: $2,496. Military Housing Area KY106 (Fort Campbell, KY). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Campbell?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Montgomery County TN (Clarksville): $1,346 for 2 bedrooms, $1,871 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,371 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Campbell?
It depends on how long you'll stay and whether you'd keep it as a rental. Run the planner above with your rank and plans.
What's the VA loan limit near Fort Campbell?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Montgomery County TN (Clarksville): $832,750.