8 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 ($1,479) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$638 a month
Waynesville R-VI Schools: 11 schools, 6,091 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$730 a month
Waynesville R-VI Schools: 11 schools, 6,091 students, 15 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$548 a month
Richland R-IV School District: 2 schools, 468 students, 11.1 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$656 a month
Rolla 31 School District: 8 schools, 4,202 students, 14.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$681 a month
Lebanon R-III School District: 8 schools, 4,432 students, 13.6 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$719 a month
Houston R-I School District: 4 schools, 1,037 students, 11 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$902 a month
Licking R-VIII School District: 2 schools, 809 students, 13.5 students per teacher. District facts
E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$750 a month
St. James R-I School District: 3 schools, 1,584 students, 13.2 students per teacher. District facts
Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.
Fort Leonard Wood base guide Fort Leonard Wood BAH Other bases
St. Robert, MO is about 20 minutes from the main post area (8.9 road miles) without traffic.
Waynesville, MO, with about 5,442 people, 21 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.
Licking, MO, where the Census median rent is $657 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 $1,479 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 8 of the 8 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Licking, MO.
Waynesville R-VI Schools, with 11 schools and 6,091 students (15 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.