If you have orders for a PCS to Fort Knox, welcome to north-central Kentucky. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. Fort Knox is one of the Army's most recognized installations, and it is a busy permanent-duty station with a long history and a strong community. This 2026 guide is written for the soldiers, civilians, and families who are moving to the area to live and work.
A move is a lot to manage at once. Our goal is to make the Fort Knox part feel clearer. We will cover where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, the local climate, and a few things to do once you are settled.
What and Where Is Fort Knox?
Fort Knox is a U.S. Army installation in north-central Kentucky, about 35 miles southwest of Louisville. According to the Fort Knox visitor information page, the post stretches into Hardin, Meade, and Bullitt counties, with the main cantonment area in Hardin County. It sits right next to the city of Radcliff and about 15 miles north of Elizabethtown.
Fort Knox is one of the most multifunctional installations in the Army. According to the U.S. Army Fort Knox home page, it is home to commands such as U.S. Army Human Resources Command, which manages soldiers' personnel actions from enlistment through retirement, and U.S. Army Cadet Command, which selects, educates, and commissions college students as officers through ROTC. ROTC stands for Reserve Officers' Training Corps, the college program that trains future Army officers. The post is also home to U.S. Army Recruiting Command, and each summer it hosts Cadet Summer Training, the Army's largest annual training event.
You may also have heard of the United States Bullion Depository, the famous gold vault on the post. It is run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, not the Army, and as the Fort Knox visitor information page notes, it is closed to visitors. It is an iconic landmark, but it is not something you will tour.
Where to Live When PCSing to Fort Knox
Many families who move to Fort Knox either live in on-post housing or settle in one of the surrounding communities. Your choice usually comes down to commute, schools, budget, and the feel you want. Permanent personnel may have access to on-post housing, so ask your sponsor and the housing office about current options and wait times.
Approximate one-way drive times to Fort Knox. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.
Radcliff
Radcliff sits right outside the post and is the closest off-post city, with a commute of about 10 minutes to the main gate. It is the most popular choice for Fort Knox families, with a mix of established homes and rentals and plenty of shopping nearby. For many, the short drive and the on-post connection make it the easiest place to start.
Muldraugh
Muldraugh is a small town at the north edge of the post, also about 10 minutes from the main gate. It is quiet and practical, with a tight-knit feel and some of the shortest commutes you will find. Families who want simple and close often look here.
Vine Grove
Vine Grove is just west of Radcliff, roughly 15 minutes from the post. It has a small-town feel with parks and local events, plus newer neighborhoods that draw families who want a little more space without a long drive.
Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, often called E-town, is about 25 minutes south of the post. It is the largest hub in the area, with a wide range of housing, shopping, restaurants, and medical care. It is a strong choice if you want more amenities and do not mind a slightly longer commute.
Brandenburg
Brandenburg sits in Meade County, west of the post along the Ohio River, about 30 minutes from the main gate. It is more rural and can offer more land and home for the money. Weigh the longer drive against the savings and the river-town setting.
Shepherdsville
Shepherdsville is in Bullitt County, northeast of the post off Interstate 65, roughly 40 minutes away. It puts you closer to the Louisville metro while keeping a smaller-town feel. The commute is longer, but some families like the access to the city.
Louisville
For families who want a big-city option, Louisville is about 50 minutes from the post. It offers the most in jobs, dining, and entertainment, but the daily drive is the longest on this list. It tends to work best for those whose schedules can absorb the commute.
If you have children, note that families living on the post are zoned to the on-post Fort Knox Community Schools, run by the Department of Defense Education Activity, while families living off post fall under the local civilian districts. We cover both below.
Fort Knox BAH and the Cost of Living
If you live off post, the military helps cover your housing through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Defense Department uses to set local housing pay. Fort Knox falls within the Fort Knox, Kentucky Military Housing Area.
Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. To find your exact figure, use the official DoD calculator: travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your rank and ZIP code to see the current rate. Exact BAH rates are verified separately, so always confirm yours before signing a lease or making an offer.
For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Radcliff was about $215,000 in June 2026, according to Zillow. That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be stationed here, so run the numbers for your own situation.
