Fort Polk
Leesville, Louisiana · Army · Formerly Fort Johnson (2023–2025)
Fort Polk is the Army's Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) — where combat brigades from across the Army come to train before deployment.
Fort Polk is the Army's most affordable major installation. The Leesville-DeRidder area has rock-bottom housing costs, and BAH creates a massive surplus at every pay grade. This is a station where intentional saving and investing can change your financial trajectory — if you embrace the simplicity.
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Showing E-5 with dependents for the Fort Polk, LA MHA.
E-5 w/dep BAH
$1,218/mo
Tax-free housing allowance
Median rent
$1,000/mo
Zillow / BestPlaces 2025–2026
Monthly surplus
+$218/mo
BAH minus median rent
What Your BAH Buys Here
If you rent at median, you keep about $218/month. But what about buying?
Median home price
$165,000
Zillow / BestPlaces 2026
Est. monthly mortgage (PITI)
$1,200–$1,400/mo
$0 down, ~6.5% rate, ~0.6% LA property tax + insurance
At $1,218/month BAH and an estimated $1,200–$1,400/month PITI on a median-priced home, BAH may cover a significant portion of a typical mortgage in this market — though actual costs vary based on rate, taxes, insurance, and individual circumstances.
Housing cost estimates are approximate and based on publicly available market data. Actual mortgage costs depend on interest rate, property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, maintenance, credit profile, and lender requirements. This is not financial advice — use these numbers as a starting point for your own research.
How This Market Compares
Fort Polk BAH for E-5 with dependents is $843/mo below the national average — but the Leesville area has rock-bottom housing costs — BAH creates one of the largest surpluses of any Army installation.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$1,218/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. natl avg
-$843/mo
2026 BAH Rates — Fort Polk, LA
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $1,206/mo·E-5 w/dep: $1,218/mo·E-6 w/dep: $1,833/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $1,206 | $1,026 |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $1,206 | $1,026 |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $1,206 | $1,026 |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $1,206 | $1,026 |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $1,218 | $1,128 |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $1,833 | $1,374 |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $1,872 | $1,404 |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $1,911 | $1,434 |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $1,989 | $1,527 |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $1,854 | $1,392 |
| W-2 (CW2) | $1,887 | $1,416 |
| W-3 (CW3) | $1,941 | $1,551 |
| W-4 (CW4) | $2,010 | $1,839 |
| W-5 (CW5) | $2,100 | $1,881 |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $1,875 | $1,410 |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $1,929 | $1,488 |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $2,022 | $1,827 |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $1,296 | $1,191 |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $1,827 | $1,407 |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $1,938 | $1,611 |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $2,124 | $1,866 |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $2,262 | $1,884 |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $2,277 | $1,917 |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $2,289 | $1,947 |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.
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BAH is just one piece of your pay
See your full compensation at Fort Polk — including base pay, BAS, tax advantages, and what a civilian would need to earn to match it.
Calculate your total compensation →Local cost of living context
Overall cost of living is roughly roughly 20–25% below the national average.
Louisiana taxes military pay at up to 4.25%. BAH and BAS remain tax-free at the federal and state level.
What to know before you move
Fort Polk is one of the most isolated Army installations. Leesville and DeRidder are tiny towns with limited amenities. Lake Charles is an hour south, Alexandria an hour north. The mistake is not mentally preparing for the isolation — but the upside is your BAH goes incredibly far. An E-5 can pocket hundreds per month in surplus or buy a home with a mortgage under $1,000.
Housing data is approximate and provided for informational and educational purposes only. Median rents and home prices reflect market estimates at time of publication and may not reflect current conditions. School ratings are sourced from third-party services and reflect their methodology. MilPayTools does not endorse specific neighborhoods, properties, landlords, or housing decisions. Always verify figures independently and consult with a qualified professional before making financial commitments.
What to do next
BAH is the starting point. Here are the calculations that matter most for your PCS decision.
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Nearby & Comparable Installations
Data Source & Disclaimer
BAH rates are from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) 2026 BAH data, effective January 1, 2026. Rates are set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not individual ZIP code — all ZIPs in the same MHA receive identical rates. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with DoD, DTMO, or any government agency. Verify your entitlement at travel.dod.mil.