--- title: 'PCS to West Point: A 2026 Guide for Military Families' slug: pcs-to-west-point-2026-guide description: >- Planning a PCS to West Point in 2026? Plain-language guide for military families: where to live near the Hudson Valley, BAH rates, schools, and healthcare. publishedAt: '2026-03-18T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - PCS Help - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/pcs-to-west-point-2026-guide' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: new-york --- # PCS to West Point: A 2026 Guide for Military Families If you have orders for a PCS to West Point, welcome to one of the most storied installations in the Army. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. The United States Military Academy, or USMA, at West Point is best known as the Army's officer-commissioning academy, but it is also a full-service permanent-duty station for the staff, faculty, and garrison personnel who live and work there alongside their families. This 2026 guide is written for those families. 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 in the Hudson Valley. A move is a lot to manage. Our goal is to make the West Point part feel a little clearer. ## What and Where Is West Point? West Point is located on the west bank of the Hudson River in Orange County, New York, about 50 miles north of New York City. The installation occupies a commanding bluff above the river, and the views of the Hudson Highlands are striking in every season. The [United States Military Academy](https://www.westpoint.edu/about) describes its mission as building, educating, training, and inspiring the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and the nation. The [U.S. Army Garrison West Point](https://home.army.mil/westpoint/about/mission) supports that work; its mission is to provide the services, programs, and infrastructure to sustain the West Point community. West Point is not a traditional combat brigade post. Permanent-party soldiers, civilians, and instructors join a tight academic community built around the development of Army officers. The pace and culture reflect that mission. ## Where to Live When PCSing to West Point Families at West Point can live on post or in one of the surrounding communities in Orange County. On-post housing, managed by West Point Family Homes, is available to permanent-party personnel, though the [West Point Housing Services Office](https://home.army.mil/westpoint/west-point-garrison/newcomers/housing-services-office) notes that wait times can stretch during the busy May-through-September PCS season. Contact the housing office and ask your sponsor early so you know where you stand before you arrive. Off post, the communities below offer a range of choices by commute, school district, and feel. ![Approximate one-way drive times from Hudson Valley communities to West Point, including Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery, Cornwall, Cornwall-on-Hudson, New Windsor, Washingtonville, and Newburgh.](/images/blog/pcs-to-west-point-2026-guide/where-to-live.png) *Approximate one-way drive times to West Point. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.* ### Highland Falls Highland Falls sits just outside the main gate, about five minutes from the post. Commutes are essentially nothing, the village has deep ties to the military community, and it falls inside the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District. Homes tend to be smaller and older, but for proximity you cannot beat it. ### Fort Montgomery Fort Montgomery is immediately north of Highland Falls along the Hudson, roughly ten minutes from the post. It is quiet, walkable to the river, and shares the same school district as Highland Falls. ### Cornwall Cornwall is about 15 minutes from the post along Route 9W. It has a small-town feel, a mix of older and newer housing, and falls within the Cornwall Central School District. For families who want more space and a fuller town center than Highland Falls, Cornwall is a popular step up. ### Cornwall-on-Hudson Cornwall-on-Hudson is also roughly 15 minutes out, right at the river's edge. It shares Cornwall's school district, so the choice between the two often comes down to housing type and setting preference. ### New Windsor New Windsor is about 20 minutes from the post, a larger township with more housing variety and easy access to retail along Route 9W. Families who want more options at a moderate commute often look here. ### Washingtonville Washingtonville is about 25 minutes from West Point, moving inland from the river. Housing tends to be more affordable than communities closer to the Hudson, and it falls within the Washingtonville Central School District. ### Newburgh Newburgh is roughly 25 minutes from West Point and offers the most housing inventory and variety in the area. Neighborhoods vary considerably, so touring in person or working with a local agent is especially useful here. ## West Point 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 that depends on your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. The [West Point Housing Services Office](https://home.army.mil/westpoint/west-point-garrison/newcomers/housing-services-office) notes that BAH rates at West Point are higher than in many other parts of the country, reflecting the cost of the greater New York metro area. Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. Use the official DoD calculator at [travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/) to find your exact figure. Always confirm yours before signing a lease or making an offer. For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Orange County was about $457,335 as of April 30, 2026, according to [Zillow](https://www.zillow.com/home-values/1290/orange-county-ny/). That is a typical value, not a median sale price. As of the week of June 18, 2026, [Freddie Mac](https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms) reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Read our guide to [what are the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) to understand your options before you start shopping. ## Schools Near West Point The schools your children attend depend on where you live. Several districts serve the West Point area. The [Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District](https://www.hffmcsd.org/) is the district most closely tied to West Point. It runs three schools: Fort Montgomery Elementary (PK–5), Highland Falls Intermediate (6–8), and James I. O'Neill High School (9–12). According to [NCES](https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?ID2=2800191&details=1), the district accepts high school dependents from the Military Academy under a longstanding arrangement, so families living on post can enroll high schoolers there. Families in Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson are served by the [Cornwall Central School District](https://www.cornwallschools.com/), which covers the Town of Cornwall and portions of New Windsor. The district accepts physical examinations completed by a military doctor, a helpful exception for arriving families. Washingtonville falls under the [Washingtonville Central School District](https://www.wcsdk12.org/district). Families in Newburgh are generally served by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, though district lines can be irregular. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit. ## Healthcare: Keller Army Community Hospital On-post medical care at West Point is centered at [Keller Army Community Hospital](https://keller.tricare.mil/), located at 900 Washington Road on the installation. Keller provides primary care and a range of specialty services for eligible beneficiaries. Your military health coverage runs through TRICARE, the health care program for service members and their families. Set up your TRICARE plan early in your PCS, update your information in DEERS, and arrange referrals before you arrive so there is no gap in care. The hospital's [website](https://keller.tricare.mil/) has current contact information and clinic hours. Getting this squared away early is one of the easiest ways to reduce stress after you land. ## Climate and Things to Do The Hudson Valley has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, fall brings vivid foliage, winters are cold and snowy, and spring arrives green. The [National Weather Service New York office (OKX)](https://www.weather.gov/okx/) covers the Hudson Valley and keeps local climate normals and records for month-by-month averages. West Point's setting gives families a lot to work with outdoors. [Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/hudson-highlands-state-park-preserve) borders the installation and covers more than 8,000 acres with over 70 miles of trail for hiking, boating, fishing, and birding. [Bear Mountain State Park](https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/bear-mountain-state-park), a few miles south, offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, plus Trailside Museums and Zoo and summer lake swimming. [Storm King Art Center](https://stormking.org/) in New Windsor — about 15 minutes from the post — is a 500-acre open-air museum with large-scale sculpture by some of the most recognized artists of the past century. Beyond the parks, the broader Hudson Valley offers river towns, farm stands, apple orchards, and a train to New York City when you want a city weekend. ## Plan Your PCS to West Point A smooth move comes down to good information and the right people. Start with our overview of [what military bases are in New York](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-new-york) and our guide to [PCS to Fort Drum near Watertown](/blog/pcs-to-fort-drum-watertown-2026-guide). To keep your timeline on track, use [the ultimate PCS checklist and timeline for active-duty military personnel](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel). If you are thinking about buying, read our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan), [how does a 0 down VA loan work](/blog/how-does-a-0-down-va-loan-work), and [2026 VA loan limits explained for military homebuyers](/blog/2026-va-loan-limits-explained-for-military-homebuyers). For a local read on a specific Orange County neighborhood and its West Point commute, [connect with a VeteranPCS agent in New York](https://www.veteranpcs.com/contact-agent). If you plan to use your VA loan (a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs), you can also [connect with a VeteranPCS lender](https://www.veteranpcs.com/contact-lender). Know another family with orders to West Point? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move too. For agents and lenders across the state, [connect with our VeteranPCS network in New York](https://www.veteranpcs.com/new-york). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What MHA or area is West Point in for BAH? West Point falls within the greater New York metro Military Housing Area for BAH purposes, and rates there are notably higher than much of the country. Your exact rate depends on your rank and whether you have dependents. Look it up with the official [DoD BAH calculator](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/) using your rank and ZIP code. ### Where do military families live near West Point? Common choices include Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery, which are closest; Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson for more housing options at a slightly longer commute; New Windsor for variety; and Washingtonville or Newburgh for affordability. On-post housing through West Point Family Homes is also available, but ask your sponsor early — wait times can run long during peak PCS months. ### Which school district will my children attend near West Point? It depends on where you live. Highland Falls and Fort Montgomery fall under the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District, which also accepts West Point high school dependents under a longstanding agreement. Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson are served by Cornwall Central School District. Washingtonville falls under Washingtonville Central School District. Newburgh families are generally served by the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. Confirm the assigned school for any specific address before you commit. ### Where do I get healthcare at West Point? On-post care is centered at [Keller Army Community Hospital](https://keller.tricare.mil/) on the installation. Set up your TRICARE plan early, update DEERS, and arrange referrals before you arrive so your care continues without a gap. ### What is the weather like at West Point? The Hudson Valley has four distinct seasons. Summers are warm and humid, fall brings vivid foliage, winters are cold with real snowfall, and spring is green. The [National Weather Service New York office (OKX)](https://www.weather.gov/okx/) covers the region and keeps local climate normals and records. ### Is West Point only for cadets, or can families live there? West Point is a full-service permanent-duty station. While the Corps of Cadets is the most visible part of the installation, staff, faculty, and garrison personnel are assigned there as permanent party with their families. Families live on post in West Point Family Homes housing or in the surrounding Orange County communities described above. This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.