Comparing TX metros for VA buyers
Program figures and 2026 BAH rates verified August 2026 — details change; confirm your scenario with us.
Mike Certo · Cornerstone First Mortgage · NMLS #260555 ·
Active-duty or retiring Veterans often have flexibility on where in TX to buy â especially anyone PCS'ing back to Fort Hood or making a VA loan Fort Bliss move with a 90-day window to find a home. Or any Veteran with full entitlement looking to retire in Texas. Here's the metro-by-metro comparison Mike runs with Veterans before they pick.
Quick comparison at a glance
| Metric | San Antonio (JBSA) | KilleenâTemple (Fort Hood) | El Paso (Fort Bliss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro population (approx.) | ~2.6M | ~500K | ~870K |
| Median home price (approx.) | ~$300K | ~$260K | ~$240K |
| Property tax (effective) | ~1.8% (Bexar) | ~1.8% (Bell) | ~2.2% (El Paso) |
| Major base | JBSA â Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston | Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) | Fort Bliss |
| VA Medical Center | Audie L. Murphy VAMC | Olin E. Teague VAMC (Temple) | El Paso VA Health Care System |
| Climate | Hot summers, mild winters | Hot summers, mild winters | Desert â hot days, cool nights, mild winters |
| Active-duty BAH | Run your rank + MHA in the BAH calculator â | ||
Population, price, and tax figures are approximate and move over time â confirm current numbers for your county before you budget.
2026 BAH by metro: what a VA buyer actually gets
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is the tax-free monthly housing stipend active-duty members receive, set by Military Housing Area and pay grade. On a VA loan it does double duty: it covers much of the payment, and it counts as qualifying income. The rates below took effect January 1, 2026. Look up your exact rank and dependency status on the DoD BAH rate lookup.
| 2026 BAH (eff. Jan 1) | San Antonio (JBSA) | Killeen (Fort Hood) | El Paso (Fort Bliss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 with dependents | $1,869 | $1,695 | $1,809 |
| E-5 without dependents | $1,500 | $1,530 | $1,437 |
| O-3 with dependents | $2,127 | $2,340 | $2,202 |
2026 rates effective January 1, 2026, cross-checked against published DoD Military Housing Area tables (verified August 2026). BAH resets every January and varies by exact grade; confirm yours at the DoD lookup above.
Two things make these numbers go further on a VA loan. First, BAH counts as qualifying income. An E-5 with dependents at Fort Hood adds $1,695 a month to the income a lender uses, stacked on base pay, BAS, and any spouse income. Second, a Veteran with full entitlement buys with $0 down, no county loan limit, and no monthly mortgage insurance. San Antonio carries the highest E-5-with-dependents rate of the three. But Fort Hood housing is among the cheapest in Texas, so the Killeen dollar tends to stretch furthest. El Paso lands in between on both.
Is it Fort Hood or Fort Cavazos now?
As of 2026 the post is officially Fort Hood. The name has moved twice in three years, which trips up families searching for it mid-PCS. Here is the real timeline: the Killeen post was Fort Hood for decades, named for Confederate general John Bell Hood. It became Fort Cavazos in May 2023, honoring Gen. Richard Cavazos, the Army's first Hispanic four-star general. Then it reverted to Fort Hood in 2025, but this time named for Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient, not the Confederate general. New "Fort Hood" signage went up in 2026. A June 2026 House Armed Services Committee vote proposed switching it back to Fort Cavazos, so it may change again; nothing is final as of this update.
San Antonio (JBSA) â the broad-stroke case
The deepest VA market in Texas. JBSA â Lackland, Randolph, and Fort Sam Houston â drives constant active-duty turnover, and San Antonio is one of the most popular retirement destinations for Texas Veterans too. Locals call it "Military City USA" for a reason.
Strengths:
- Large selection of homes at most price points, much of it under the conforming limit
- Audie L. Murphy VA Medical Center plus several outpatient clinics make VA healthcare access easy
- Strong job market for transitioning Veterans (cybersecurity, defense, healthcare, USAA, the medical center district)
- Strong schools in the suburbs near Randolph â Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD is a common pick
- One of the largest Veteran communities in the country
Weaknesses:
- Hot, humid summers; many months of air-conditioning
- Property-tax effective rates are high statewide, and Bexar is no exception
- Traffic on the loops (410, 1604) at rush hour
- Some desirable communities carry HOA dues
Best for: Active-duty JBSA families, working-age retiring Veterans, and anyone who wants the widest selection plus deep VA infrastructure.
KilleenâTemple (Fort Hood) â the affordability case
One of the most affordable base markets in Texas, anchored by Fort Hood (renamed from Fort Cavazos in 2025), one of the largest active-duty Army posts in the country. The Olin E. Teague VA Medical Center in nearby Temple is a full hospital.
Strengths:
- Low entry prices â a VA buyer's dollar stretches further here than almost anywhere else in Texas
- Olin E. Teague VAMC (Temple) is a full medical facility, not just a clinic
- Short commutes; Harker Heights, Killeen, Copperas Cove, and Belton all sit close to the gates
- Belton and Salado-area schools are well regarded
- BAH stretches a long way against the low cost of housing
Weaknesses:
- Smaller civilian job market â heavily tied to the post
- Hot Central Texas summers
- Resale can soften when large units deploy or draw down
- Less nightlife and big-city amenity than San Antonio or Austin
Best for: Active-duty Fort Hood families, first-time VA buyers who want the most house for the BAH, and Veterans prioritizing affordability.
El Paso (Fort Bliss) â the value + dry-climate case
El Paso is one of the most affordable major Army markets in the country, anchored by Fort Bliss and the 1st Armored Division. The El Paso VA Health Care System works alongside William Beaumont Army Medical Center.
Strengths:
- Among the lowest home prices of any large Texas metro
- Dry desert climate â hot days but low humidity and cool evenings
- Very low violent-crime rate for a city its size
- Tight-knit, heavily military community; Northeast El Paso, Horizon City, and Eastlake are popular with Fort Bliss families
- Homeowners insurance tends to run lower than humid, storm-exposed parts of Texas
Weaknesses:
- El Paso County property-tax effective rates are among the higher ones in Texas
- Geographically isolated â far from the rest of the state's metros
- Smaller private-sector job market outside the post and healthcare
- Summer afternoons are genuinely hot
Best for: Active-duty Fort Bliss families, VA buyers who want maximum value, and Veterans who prefer a dry climate.
Other TX metros worth knowing
Wichita Falls â Sheppard AFB's town and the home of ENJJPT pilot training. Some of the lowest-cost housing in the state and one of the best BAH-to-price ratios in Texas, so BAH often covers a full payment with room to spare.
DallasâFort Worth â Huge metro with NAS JRB Fort Worth, the VA North Texas Health Care System (Dallas VAMC), and a deep civilian job market for transitioning Veterans. Higher prices than the base towns, but enormous selection. See the Dallas VA loan guide (incl. the 75244 North Dallas area).
Austin â No major active base, but a strong job market and a frequent landing spot for retiring officers and tech-track Veterans. Prices and property taxes run high; many purchases push into VA jumbo territory.
Houston â The largest metro in Texas, home to the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. No major Army or Air Force post, but Ellington Field (Coast Guard / Reserve / Guard) and a vast housing market. Hurricane and flood exposure matters here â check the flood zone.
San Angelo + Abilene â Goodfellow AFB (San Angelo) and Dyess AFB (Abilene, B-1B Lancers and C-130Js) anchor two affordable West Texas markets with tight-knit military communities.
Corpus Christi â NAS Corpus Christi and a Gulf-coast lifestyle. Affordable, but factor coastal wind and flood insurance into the budget.
VA-specific decision factors
| If you prioritize... | Lean toward... |
|---|---|
| Active-duty BAH efficiency | Wichita Falls > El Paso > KilleenâTemple > San Antonio |
| Maximum home selection | San Antonio > DallasâFort Worth > Houston |
| Schools (for active-duty families) | San Antonio (Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD) > KilleenâTemple (Belton ISD) > El Paso |
| Lowest cost of entry | Wichita Falls > El Paso > KilleenâTemple > San Antonio |
| VA healthcare access | San Antonio > KilleenâTemple (Temple) > El Paso |
| Dry climate / low humidity | El Paso > San AngeloâAbilene > KilleenâTemple |
| Retiring-Veteran community | San Antonio > Sun City Texas (Georgetown) > El Paso |
| Lower storm / flood exposure | El Paso > San Antonio > KilleenâTemple > Houston (coast) |
Frequently asked questions
If I'm PCS'ing to Fort Hood, where do families usually live?
Most Fort Hood families buy in Harker Heights, Killeen, Copperas Cove, Nolanville, or Belton. Harker Heights and Belton are popular for schools; Copperas Cove sits right by the back gate. Commute time is the real constraint, and almost all of these are 15â25 minutes from the gates.
Can I use my VA loan to buy in another city while assigned to Fort Hood?
A VA purchase has to be a home you intend to occupy as your primary residence within a reasonable commute. Some service members buy an investment property in another Texas market and plan to occupy after they PCS out, but that purchase needs non-VA financing, not a VA loan, while it's a rental.
Which Texas metro has the best BAH-to-price ratio?
Wichita Falls (Sheppard AFB) and El Paso (Fort Bliss) tend to lead because home prices are low relative to BAH. KilleenâTemple (Fort Hood) is close behind. Run your exact rank and dependency status in the BAH calculator to see your number.
Are there VA-specific neighborhoods within each metro?
Not by VA designation, but Veteran-heavy neighborhoods exist: Schertz, Cibolo, and Universal City near JBSA; Harker Heights and Copperas Cove near Fort Hood; Northeast El Paso, Horizon City, and Eastlake near Fort Bliss; Burkburnett and Iowa Park near Sheppard.
What is the 2026 BAH for San Antonio?
For 2026, effective January 1, San Antonio (Joint Base San Antonio) BAH is about $1,869/month for an E-5 with dependents, roughly $1,500 for an E-5 without dependents, and around $2,127 for an O-3 with dependents. Killeen/Fort Hood and El Paso/Fort Bliss run a little lower or higher by grade. Confirm your exact figure on the DoD BAH lookup, and remember BAH counts as qualifying income on a VA loan.
Is it Fort Hood or Fort Cavazos now?
As of 2026 it is officially Fort Hood. The Killeen post was Fort Hood for decades, became Fort Cavazos in May 2023 to honor Gen. Richard Cavazos, then reverted to Fort Hood in 2025, this time named for Col. Robert B. Hood, a World War I hero, not the original Confederate namesake. A June 2026 congressional committee vote proposed switching it back to Fort Cavazos, so the name could change again.
Where does Mike recommend Texas retiring Veterans look first?
It depends on the Veteran, but most start with San Antonio (deep VA infrastructure and Veteran community), then Sun City Texas in Georgetown (cost plus an active 55+ community), then El Paso or the Hill Country for value and climate. Mike runs a structured intake call to match preferences to communities before any home shopping.
Considering a Texas metro and want a head-start comparison? Free 15-minute consult.