10 towns within about an hour of the main post area: drive time, rent, home values and the school district for each.
The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($1,815) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$875 a month
Leavenworth Unified School District 453: 8 schools, 3,457 students, 15.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$838 a month
Lansing Unified School District 469: 4 schools, 2,511 students, 14.9 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$558 a month
Platte County R-III School District: 8 schools, 4,283 students, 13.8 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$676 a month
Park Hill School District: 20 schools, 11,915 students, 13.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median rent: +$74 a month
Park Hill School District: 20 schools, 11,915 students, 13.4 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$527 a month
Basehor-Linwood Unified School District 458: 7 schools, 3,097 students, 14.2 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$968 a month
Atchison Public Schools Unified School District 409: 4 schools, 1,476 students, 10.3 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$839 a month
Smithville R-II School District: 5 schools, 2,536 students, 14 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$693 a month
Kansas City Unified School District 500: 43 schools, 21,132 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$549 a month
Kansas City 33 School District: 33 schools, 14,694 students, 12.5 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Fort Leavenworth base guide Fort Leavenworth BAH Other bases
Leavenworth, KS is about 10 minutes from the main post area (3.8 road miles) without traffic.
Atchison, KS, where the Census median rent is $737 a month (rent plus utilities, 2020-2024 average). New leases usually cost more than the median, so check current listings too.
For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $1,815 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 9 of the 9 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Atchison, KS.
Leavenworth Unified School District 453, with 8 schools and 3,457 students (15.9 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.