Fort Knox Housing & PCS Guide

Your First Stop: the Fort Knox Housing Services Office

Fort Knox covers about 109,000 acres across Bullitt, Hardin and Meade counties, roughly 35 miles south of Louisville and 15 miles north of Elizabethtown. It's home to Army Human Resources Command, Cadet Command, Recruiting Command and V Corps, so families arrive here year-round from every kind of assignment.

Before you sign a lease or make an offer on a house, check in with the Housing Services Office (HSO). Under Army Regulation 420-1, all incoming Soldiers in-process housing through the HSO, and DoD policy says to do it before agreeing to rent or buy. The HSO then refers you on post or off post.

The HSO is free and useful even if you already know you want to buy. It can help with:

• Rental and for-sale listings off post, including temporary lodging
• Lease reviews, including making sure your lease has a military clause
• BAH, TLE and PTDY counseling
• Avoiding rental scams and unsuitable properties
• Move-in and move-out inspections on request, landlord-tenant rights and Fair Housing complaints
• Community maps, school-district and zoning information

How BAH Works at Fort Knox

The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) gives you housing pay based on local civilian rental costs when government quarters aren't provided. Three things set your rate: your pay grade, whether you have dependents, and your duty station. The number of dependents doesn't matter, only whether you have any.

A few points that come up when families plan a move here:

• BAH isn't designed to cover every housing cost. Budget for utilities, insurance and upkeep on top of rent or a mortgage.
• Rate protection. Once you're here, your BAH won't drop year to year unless you PCS, are reduced in grade, or your dependency status changes.
• Buying with BAH. Many families use their BAH toward a mortgage instead of rent. We'll show you homes that fit your number so the payment works month to month.

Look up your exact rate with the official DoD BAH calculator (search Fort Knox, KY).

Where to Live Near Fort Knox

There's no single "best" place to live near Fort Knox. It comes down to your commute, your school district and the kind of home you want. Here's how the towns around the post compare.

Gate names, hours and which gates are open change, so check the Fort Knox garrison site for current access before you pick a home based on its commute. There's no public transportation on the installation, so plan on driving.

Homes for Sale Near Fort Knox

There are no homes for sale on post itself. Off-post listings near Fort Knox are spread across Radcliff, Vine Grove, Elizabethtown and the Meade County side, with a mix of established neighborhoods and newer construction. You can search current listings any time, and if you tell us your report date, BAH and school priorities, we'll send you the homes that fit and set up alerts for new ones.

Buying Near Fort Knox With a VA Loan

Buying instead of renting lets your BAH build equity, and the VA home loan is the reason many Fort Knox families can do it. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

• No down payment is required as long as the sales price isn't higher than the appraised value.
• There's no private mortgage insurance, and no prepayment penalty.
• The seller can pay closing costs.
• A one-time VA funding fee may apply.
• With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit, though your lender still has to approve the amount.
• You can use the benefit again after you sell or refinance, and VA loans are assumable, which can help when you sell at your next PCS.

You'll need a Certificate of Eligibility (COE), you'll need to meet VA and lender credit and income standards, and you'll need to live in the home you buy. Ask your lender how occupancy works for your situation, especially if you might keep the home as a rental after you leave.

Sellers around Fort Knox see VA offers all the time. Our team is led by a Marine Corps veteran, and we write VA offers that sellers trust and plan closings around report dates.

Fort Knox Housing FAQ

What is the closest town to Fort Knox?

Radcliff is the closest full-service city. It borders the south side of Fort Knox along US-31W and has long been the main off-post community for military families. Muldraugh is even closer but much smaller; it's a small city completely surrounded by the post. West Point borders the north end of Fort Knox on the Ohio River, and Vine Grove is just past Radcliff to the west.

Where do most Fort Knox families live?

Many live on post in Knox Hills housing. Off post, most families choose Radcliff or Vine Grove for the short commute, Elizabethtown for shopping, healthcare and its school districts, or Brandenburg and the Meade County side for more land. Some commute from Louisville. The right choice depends on your commute, school district and the kind of home you want, and we're happy to walk you through each option.

Should I live on post or off post at Fort Knox?

On post, you lease from Knox Hills, rent typically comes out of your BAH by allotment, your commute is minutes, and kids attend DoDEA schools. Off post, you choose the town, the home and the school district, and if you buy with a VA loan your housing allowance builds equity. Either way, the Fort Knox Housing Services Office is the required first stop before you sign a lease or make an offer.

Can civilians live on Fort Knox?

DoD civilians can stay in on-post lodging run by IHG Army Hotels. Eligibility for on-post family housing is set by Knox Hills and the Army housing office, so if you're a DoD civilian employee or contractor, ask the Housing Services Office or Knox Hills about your situation. Most civilians working at Fort Knox live in Radcliff, Vine Grove, Elizabethtown or the surrounding area.

How far is Fort Knox from Louisville?

Fort Knox is about 35 miles south of Louisville. The usual route is US-31W (Dixie Highway) north, or the Gene Snyder Freeway (KY-841) connecting to I-65. Elizabethtown is about 15 miles south of the post.

What is the closest airport to Fort Knox?

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) is the closest major airport, roughly a 30-minute drive from Fort Knox. From the airport, take I-65 south to the Gene Snyder Freeway west, then US-31W south to the post.

Can I buy a house near Fort Knox with no money down?

With a VA loan, often yes. The VA says eligible buyers don't need a down payment as long as the price doesn't exceed the appraised value, and the seller may pay closing costs. A one-time VA funding fee may apply, and you'll need a Certificate of Eligibility and lender approval. VA offers are common around Fort Knox, so local sellers are used to them.

What is Fort Knox known for?

Fort Knox is best known for the U.S. Bullion Depository, which sits next to the post and is closed to visitors. The post itself, named for Henry Knox, dates to 1918 and is home to Army Human Resources Command, Cadet Command, Recruiting Command and V Corps.