No state income tax and some of the strongest veteran property tax exemptions in the country.
One of the largest Army posts in the world. Killeen-Temple area median home prices remain well below the national average.
Massive training installation with some of the most affordable housing of any major duty station.
Lackland, Randolph, and Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio blends big-city amenities with a moderate cost of living.
Coastal Texas flying billets with strong rental demand from military families.
Everything military families ask about before a PCS to Texas — taxes, benefits, housing, schools, weather, and traffic.
Texas has no state income tax — military pay, retirement pay, and VA disability all go untaxed at the state level. Property taxes are higher than average, but veterans with a 100% VA disability rating receive a total property tax exemption on their homestead, and partial exemptions scale up from 10% ratings.
Texas offers some of the best BAH-to-mortgage math in the country. In Killeen and El Paso, an E-5's BAH commonly covers the full payment on a median single-family home. San Antonio and Austin-adjacent markets run higher but remain far below coastal price points.
Expect long, hot summers (95°F+ is routine June–September) and short, mild winters nearly everywhere. Central Texas (Killeen, San Antonio) sits in a hail-prone corridor — roof age matters when you buy. The Gulf Coast carries hurricane exposure and higher insurance costs, while El Paso is high desert: dry air, 300+ sunny days, and cool nights.
Killeen and El Paso commutes are easy — most gates are reachable in 15–25 minutes from popular neighborhoods. San Antonio is the exception: I-35, US-281, and Loop 1604 back up at rush hour, so many JBSA families buy near their assigned base (Lackland vs. Randolph are on opposite sides of the metro — confirm your gate before you pick a neighborhood).
Get pre-approved before you land. A VA loan specialist can have your numbers ready this week.
Call (719) 259-2246