Where to live

Where to live near Fort Polk

4 towns within about an hour of the main post area: drive time, rent, home values and the school district for each.

Town centers and the main post area. Dot size is population.

Quick answers

ClosestNew Llano15 min drive
Biggest nearbyDeRidder9,763 people
Lowest median rentMany$631 a month
Most E-5 BAH left overMany$823 over a 2-bedroom
4 towns, closest first

Towns around Fort Polk

The green or red number is an E-5 with dependents' 2026 BAH ($1,218) minus that town's median 2-bedroom rent. Check your own pay grade.

New Llano, LA

15 min drive · 8.4 road mi
Median rent
$828
2 bedrooms
$810
3 bedrooms
$869
Home value
$118,100
People
2,144
Homes rented
55%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$408 a month

Vernon Parish School District: 18 schools, 9,075 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts

Leesville, LA

21 min drive · 11 road mi
Median rent
$894
2 bedrooms
$827
3 bedrooms
$1,065
Home value
$118,600
People
5,495
Homes rented
55%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$391 a month

Vernon Parish School District: 18 schools, 9,075 students, 15.6 students per teacher. District facts

DeRidder, LA

28 min drive · 19.4 road mi
Median rent
$958
2 bedrooms
$931
3 bedrooms
$1,187
Home value
$156,600
People
9,763
Homes rented
33%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$287 a month

Beauregard Parish School District: 12 schools, 5,959 students, 14.1 students per teacher. District facts

Many, LA

59 min drive · 43.7 road mi
Median rent
$631
2 bedrooms
$395
3 bedrooms
-
Home value
$116,600
People
2,166
Homes rented
44%

E-5 BAH left over after the median 2-bedroom rent: +$823 a month

Sabine Parish School District: 10 schools, 3,947 students, 12.9 students per teacher. District facts

Where these numbers come from

  • Towns: every town, city and census place of 1,000 or more people within about an hour's drive, from the U.S. Census Bureau.
  • Drive time: from each town's center to the main post area on OpenStreetMap roads, without traffic, so rush hour runs longer.
  • Rent, home value, renters: Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 medians. They include long-time renters and utilities, so new leases usually cost more. Use them to compare towns, and the HUD rent on the BAH page for today's level.
  • Schools: the public district that covers each town's center, with size from the NCES Common Core of Data (2023-24). Confirm the school for a specific address with the district.

Updated October 12, 2026. How we get our numbers.

Fort Polk base guide   Fort Polk BAH   Other bases

FAQ

Living near Fort Polk

What is the closest town to Fort Polk?

New Llano, LA is about 15 minutes from the main post area (8.4 road miles) without traffic.

What is the biggest town near Fort Polk?

DeRidder, LA, with about 9,763 people, 28 minutes from the main post area. Bigger towns usually mean more rentals, schools and jobs to choose from.

Which town near Fort Polk has the lowest rent?

Many, LA, where the Census median rent is $631 a month (rent plus utilities, 2020-2024 average). New leases usually cost more than the median, so check current listings too.

Does BAH cover rent near Fort Polk?

For an E-5 with dependents the 2026 DoD BAH is $1,218 a month. That is at or above the Census median 2-bedroom rent in 4 of the 4 towns here with a Census figure for that size, with the most left over in Many, LA.

What school district serves New Llano?

Vernon Parish School District, with 18 schools and 9,075 students (15.6 students per teacher), from the NCES Common Core of Data. Always confirm the school for a specific address with the district.