Moving to Fort Leonard Wood
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Waynesville, Missouri.
Fort Leonard Wood, in the Missouri Ozarks, is the Army’s Maneuver Support Center of Excellence, training Engineer, Military Police, and Chemical soldiers. Families PCSing here settle in St. Robert and Waynesville right outside the gate, in a low-cost rural market where buying with a VA loan is common for longer assignments.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
Should you live on base or off base at Fort Leonard Wood?
On-post housing has broad inventory with waitlists on larger homes. Off-post, St. Robert sits right at the main gate with the most rentals, Waynesville is the county seat with the well-regarded school district, and smaller towns like Richland and Dixon offer lower prices farther out. Rural Ozarks prices make buying realistic for most ranks.
Where do military families live near Fort Leonard Wood?
Families PCSing to Fort Leonard Wood most often settle in St. Robert, Waynesville, Richland / Dixon. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Robert | $950-$1,400 | $170k-$260k | 5-10 min | At the main gate; most rentals and the shortest commute. |
| Waynesville | $1,000-$1,450 | $180k-$280k | 10-20 min | County seat with the strong Waynesville R-VI school district. |
| Richland / Dixon | $850-$1,250 | $150k-$230k | 20-30 min | Small Ozark towns with the lowest prices farther out. |
Rent and home-price ranges are typical local market estimates as of 2026-07-19, not official listings. See our methodology.
How much is 2026 BAH at Fort Leonard Wood?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Leonard Wood is set by the MO163 (Fort Leonard Wood, MO) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,479 | $1,290 |
| E-7 | $1,833 | $1,386 |
| O-3 | $2,028 | $1,629 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
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Get my free quotesWhat schools are near Fort Leonard Wood?
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesville High School | High | Waynesville R-VI | Waynesville |
| Waynesville Middle School | Middle | Waynesville R-VI | Waynesville |
| Partridge Elementary | Elementary | Waynesville R-VI | Fort Leonard Wood |
Fort Leonard Wood PCS FAQ
Where do families live near Fort Leonard Wood?
St. Robert sits right at the main gate with the most rentals and the shortest commute, so many soldiers start there. Waynesville, the county seat, is popular with families for the well-regarded Waynesville R-VI school district. Smaller Ozark towns like Richland and Dixon offer the lowest prices farther out.
Is the Waynesville school district good for military kids?
Yes. Waynesville R-VI serves a large military population from Fort Leonard Wood and is well regarded for supporting frequently-moving families. Its experience with PCS transfers, records, and the Interstate Compact makes it a common reason families choose to live in Waynesville rather than the smaller surrounding towns.
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