Fort Hood: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,695/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,711 (HUD FY2026). About $16/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $247,929 in Bell County TX (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $2,154/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,340/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Hood
2026 BAH at Fort Hood
Military Housing Area TX286: Fort Hood, TX. Duty ZIP 76544. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| 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+ | $2,787 | $2,361 |
Rent near Fort Hood
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $983 |
| 1 bedroom | $990 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,233 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,711 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,068 |
Killeen-Temple, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (Bell County TX). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,321.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $247,929 (Zillow ZHVI, Bell County TX, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $253,259 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $1,754/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $298/mo (1.44% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $103/mo
- Total (est.)
- $2,154/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 Hood?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,695 a month; without dependents $1,530. O-3 with dependents: $2,340. Military Housing Area TX286 (Fort Hood, TX). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Hood?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Bell County TX: $1,233 for 2 bedrooms, $1,711 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,321 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Hood?
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 Hood?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Bell County TX: $832,750.