Moving to Fort Riley
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Junction City, Kansas.
Fort Riley, in the Flint Hills of Kansas, is home to the 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One." Families PCSing here settle in Junction City right outside the gate or in the college town of Manhattan, where low Kansas home prices make buying with a VA loan straightforward for most ranks.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing through Corvias offers many neighborhoods, with waitlists on larger homes. Off-post, Junction City sits right outside the gate with the lowest prices, Ogden is the closest small town, and Manhattan (home to Kansas State University) draws families wanting more amenities and stronger schools about 20 minutes east.
Where military families live near Fort Riley
Families PCSing to Fort Riley most often settle in Junction City, Manhattan, Ogden. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Junction City | $1,000-$1,450 | $160k-$240k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate; lowest prices and heaviest military base. |
| Manhattan | $1,200-$1,750 | $230k-$330k | 15-25 min | College town with the most amenities and strong schools. |
| Ogden | $950-$1,350 | $150k-$220k | 5-10 min | Closest small town to post, quiet and inexpensive. |
2026 BAH near Fort Riley
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Riley is set by the KS100 (Fort Riley, KS) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,314 | $1,158 |
| E-7 | $1,845 | $1,383 |
| O-3 | $1,953 | $1,611 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Riley
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junction City High School | High | Geary County USD 475 | Junction City |
| Manhattan High School | High | Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 | Manhattan |
| Fort Riley Elementary | Elementary | Geary County USD 475 | Fort Riley |
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Should I live in Junction City or Manhattan near Fort Riley?
Junction City sits right outside the gate with the lowest prices and the largest military renter base, making it the default for a short commute. Manhattan, about 20 minutes east and home to Kansas State University, offers more amenities and stronger schools. Families often pick Manhattan and accept the extra drive.
Is Fort Riley a good place to buy a home?
For a multi-year assignment, yes. Kansas home prices around Junction City and Manhattan are low, so buying with a VA loan is realistic even for junior soldiers. The steady division population keeps rental demand up, though a shorter tour can make the costs of buying and selling harder to recoup.
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