Moving to Fort McCoy
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Sparta, Wisconsin.
Fort McCoy, in the wooded hills of west-central Wisconsin, is a total-force training center that supports Reserve and National Guard units year-round. Families PCSing here settle in Sparta, Tomah, or the larger La Crosse area, in an affordable, scenic Driftless Region market with four distinct seasons.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing serves permanent-party families with the usual waitlists. Off-post, Sparta sits closest to the gate with the most affordable inventory, Tomah offers a small-city option with amenities, and the La Crosse area to the west provides a larger market with strong schools along the Mississippi River. Prices are low, so buying with a VA loan is common.
Where military families live near Fort McCoy
Families PCSing to Fort McCoy most often settle in Sparta, Tomah, La Crosse / Onalaska. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | $1,000-$1,400 | $200k-$290k | 10-20 min | Closest to the gate with the most affordable inventory. |
| Tomah | $1,050-$1,450 | $210k-$300k | 15-25 min | Small city with amenities a short drive east. |
| La Crosse / Onalaska | $1,150-$1,600 | $240k-$340k | 30-40 min | Larger market with strong schools along the Mississippi. |
2026 BAH near Fort McCoy
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort McCoy is set by the WI318 (Sparta/Fort McCoy, WI) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,395 | $1,290 |
| E-7 | $1,875 | $1,407 |
| O-3 | $1,923 | $1,680 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort McCoy
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta High School | High | School District of Sparta | Sparta |
| Tomah High School | High | Tomah Area School District | Tomah |
| Lawrence-Lawson Elementary | Elementary | School District of Sparta | Sparta |
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Where do most families live near Fort McCoy?
Sparta, closest to the gate, has the most affordable inventory and the shortest commute. Tomah is a small city with amenities a short drive east. The La Crosse and Onalaska area to the west offers a larger market with strong schools along the Mississippi River, about 30 to 40 minutes away.
What is the Fort McCoy area like?
It is scenic and rural, in Wisconsin’s wooded Driftless Region. Sparta and Tomah are small towns with a low cost of living and four distinct seasons, including cold, snowy winters. La Crosse provides bigger-city amenities to the west. It is a quieter assignment with easy access to the outdoors.
Related bases
Naval Station Great Lakes
North Chicago, Illinois
Air ForceMinot Air Force Base
Minot, North Dakota
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More: Army bases · Bases in Wisconsin