Moving to Fort Sill
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Lawton, Oklahoma.
Fort Sill, at Lawton, Oklahoma, is the Army’s Fires Center of Excellence and a basic training post. Families PCSing here settle in Lawton right outside the gate or the smaller towns of Elgin and Cache, where some of the lowest home prices in the country make buying with a VA loan easy for most ranks.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing through Corvias has broad inventory with the usual waitlists on larger homes. Off-post, Lawton wraps around the gate with the most affordable inventory, while Elgin and Cache offer newer construction and stronger schools a short drive out. Prices are among the lowest of any Army post, so buying is common.
Where military families live near Fort Sill
Families PCSing to Fort Sill most often settle in Lawton, Elgin, Cache. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawton | $950-$1,400 | $150k-$230k | 5-15 min | Right outside the gate; most inventory and the lowest prices. |
| Elgin | $1,150-$1,600 | $200k-$290k | 15-25 min | Newer homes and well-regarded schools; family favorite just north. |
| Cache | $1,000-$1,450 | $170k-$250k | 15-25 min | Small-town feel with low prices west of the base. |
2026 BAH near Fort Sill
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Sill is set by the OK237 (Fort Sill/Lawton, OK) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,233 | $1,092 |
| E-7 | $1,587 | $1,209 |
| O-3 | $1,758 | $1,395 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Sill
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eisenhower High School | High | Lawton Public Schools | Lawton |
| Elgin High School | High | Elgin Public Schools | Elgin |
| Freedom Elementary | Elementary | Lawton Public Schools | Lawton |
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How affordable is housing near Fort Sill?
Very. Lawton and the surrounding Comanche County towns have some of the lowest home prices of any Army post, so buying with a VA loan is realistic even on junior enlisted pay. Many families buy rather than rent, and BAH often covers a mortgage on a solid home with room to spare.
Where do families with kids live near Fort Sill?
Elgin, about 15 to 25 minutes north of the base, is the most popular choice for families because of its newer homes and well-regarded schools. Cache, to the west, offers a small-town feel and low prices. Lawton itself has the most inventory and the shortest commute for those who prefer to be close.
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