Two destinations · eight towns · road miles measured October 4, 2026
Fort Hood + BSW Temple Dual-Career Commute Housing Guide (2026)
One address, two commutes: the measured miles, current prices, loan rules, BAH and taxes.
If your household has one commute to Fort Hood and one to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple, four towns sit along the I-14 drive between them. Measured from each town’s anchor point on October 4, 2026, Killeen totals 28.0–28.1 combined road miles to Fort Hood’s Bernie Beck Main Gate and BSW Temple, Nolanville 29.0–29.1, Harker Heights 29.3–29.4 and Belton 29.7–29.8. Temple totals 32.3–33.3, Morgan’s Point Resort 35.6–37.8, Salado 39.8–45.0 and Copperas Cove 44.7–44.9. Combined miles are one input; prices, taxes and the specific address matter as much.
Photo: I-14/US 190 through Harker Heights, on the drive from Fort Hood’s main gate to BSW Temple · September 2, 2026 · Photo by Taylor Dasch
The short answer
Where can a household live with one commute to Fort Hood and one to BSW Temple?
On road miles alone, Killeen, Nolanville, Harker Heights and Belton come out lowest: 28.0–29.8 combined miles from their anchor points to Bernie Beck Main Gate and BSW Medical Center – Temple, close to the 28.3-mile drive from the gate to the hospital itself. Along that stretch of I-14, moving east or west mostly shifts miles from one commute to the other. Temple totals 32.3–33.3 because its anchor, downtown City Hall, sits on the far side of the hospital from Fort Hood; Morgan’s Point Resort, Salado and Copperas Cove total more. Combined miles are one input; prices, taxes and the specific address matter as much.
The I-14 towns trade miles between the two commutes rather than adding them. The split, the price and the address decide the rest.
- Gate to hospital: 28.3 road miles, 32–35 free-flow minutes
- Killeen: 3.0 mi to the gate + 25.0–25.1 mi to BSW Temple
- Belton: 22.0–22.1 mi to the gate + 7.7 mi to BSW Temple
- Free-flow minutes leave out rush hour, gate processing and the drive on post
- Distances run from city halls, the Bell County Courthouse or a town center point, not your address
Commute matrix · measured October 4, 2026
How far is each town from Fort Hood’s main gate and BSW Temple?
Each town is measured from one fixed anchor point (a city hall, the Bell County Courthouse or a town center point) to two places: Fort Hood’s Bernie Beck Main Gate, which the Army lists as open 24/7, and Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple at 2401 S 31st St, Temple, TX 76508. Two routing engines, OSRM and Valhalla, measured every pair on October 4, 2026; where they chose different roads, the table shows both results.
Read the minutes as a floor. They are free-flow model times. They leave out rush hour, gate processing and visitor checks, the drive on post to your unit, and hospital parking.
- 1Killeen3.0 to the gate · 25.0–25.1 to BSW · 28.0–28.1 combined
- 2Nolanville11.9 to the gate · 17.1–17.2 to BSW · 29.0–29.1 combined
- 3Harker Heights8.5 to the gate · 20.8–20.9 to BSW · 29.3–29.4 combined
- 4Belton22.0–22.1 to the gate · 7.7 to BSW · 29.7–29.8 combined
- 5Temple29.7 to the gate · 2.6–3.6 to BSW · 32.3–33.3 combined
- 6Morgan’s Point Resort25.6 to the gate · 10.0–12.2 to BSW · 35.6–37.8 combined
- 7Salado23.6–28.8 to the gate · 16.2 to BSW · 39.8–45.0 combined
- 8Copperas Cove9.0–9.1 to the gate · 35.7–35.8 to BSW · 44.7–44.9 combined
| Town (anchor point) | To Bernie Beck Main Gate | To BSW Temple | Combined road miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| KilleenCity Hall, 101 N College St | 3.0 mi7 min | 25.0–25.1 mi34 min | 28.0–28.1 mi |
| NolanvilleCity Hall, W Ave G | 11.9 mi13–16 min | 17.1–17.2 mi21–23 min | 29.0–29.1 mi |
| Harker HeightsCity Hall, 305 Millers Crossing | 8.5 mi11–13 min | 20.8–20.9 mi24–27 min | 29.3–29.4 mi |
| BeltonBell County Courthouse | 22.0–22.1 mi23–27 min | 7.7 mi12–13 min | 29.7–29.8 mi |
| TempleCity Hall, 2 N Main St | 29.7 mi32–36 min | 2.6–3.6 mi6–8 min | 32.3–33.3 mi |
| Morgan’s Point Resortcity offices, 8 Morgan’s Point Blvd | 25.6 mi36–37 min | 10.0–12.2 mi19 min | 35.6–37.8 mi |
| Saladovillage center point | 23.6–28.8 mi30–35 min | 16.2 mi21–22 min | 39.8–45.0 mi |
| Copperas Covecity center point | 9.0–9.1 mi13–15 min | 35.7–35.8 mi38–44 min | 44.7–44.9 mi |
Miles to the gateMiles to BSW TempleBars use the lower figure of each range.Combined miles add the two legs as printed, low with low and high with high, so a total can differ by a tenth of a mile from an engine’s own unrounded sum.
What the table shows
Along I-14, moving east or west trades miles; it doesn’t add them
Killeen, Nolanville, Harker Heights and Belton total 28.0–29.8 combined miles, a spread of 1.8 miles, and the drive from the gate straight to the hospital is 28.3. In Killeen the split is 3.0 miles to the gate and 25.0–25.1 to BSW; in Belton it is 22.0–22.1 and 7.7. The total barely moves. The split does, and so do price and taxes.
Why some cells show two numbers: from Salado, OSRM routed over FM 2484 and FM 3481 (23.6 miles) while Valhalla stayed on I-35 and I-14 (28.8). From Temple City Hall to the hospital, OSRM used city streets (2.6) and Valhalla used Spur 290 and Loop 363 (3.6). From Morgan’s Point Resort, OSRM cut across on Prairie View Road (10.0) and Valhalla stayed on TX 36 and Loop 363 (12.2).
Cross-check: all seven gate distances equal the figures in our Fort Hood relocation guide, measured September 25, 2026 and re-fetched October 3, 2026 from the same anchor points. For two of these towns side by side, see Temple vs Killeen and Temple vs Belton; for the hospital side of a move, see the BSW Temple relocation guide.
CTXMLS export observed October 3, 2026
What do homes cost in each town right now?
Asking prices on October 3, 2026 and closed sales from Aug. 4–Oct. 3, 2026, grouped by the MLS mailing city. Every town gets the same screen: residential listings priced at $15,000 or more, no lease listings, each property counted once. Same order as the commute table.
| Town | Active listings, Oct. 3 | Median asking price | Closed sales, Aug. 4–Oct. 3 | Median sale price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen | 716 | $235,000 | 256 | $243,200 |
| Nolanville | 89 | $349,900 | 34 | $319,300 |
| Harker Heights | 140 | $307,000 | 38 | $290,000 |
| Belton | 234 | $336,500 | 98 | $318,500 |
| Temple | 640 | $280,000 | 212 | $268,800 |
| Morgan’s Point Resort | 6 | small sample | 3 | small sample |
| Salado | 99 | $625,000 | 54 | $540,000 |
| Copperas Cove | Not covered: this export is limited to Bell County and held only 2 active and 1 closed Copperas Cove records, too few to describe the city. | |||
A median prints only when at least 15 homes are in the group, so Morgan’s Point Resort is marked small sample. Asking prices are not appraisals, and a closed median describes the mix of homes that sold, not what a particular house is worth. Numbers move weekly; ask for a fresh pull on the addresses you are considering.
Financing · rules, not rates
Which loan fits when one home serves both commutes?
A house carries one first mortgage, so the household chooses one loan program for the purchase. Lenders quote and qualify the loan; this section covers the published rules. There are no rate quotes here: compare Loan Estimates from more than one lender.
VA loan basics
- With full entitlement there is no VA loan limit, as long as you can afford the loan and the appraisal supports the price.VA.gov, VA home loan limits (updated August 12, 2025)
- No down payment when the sales price isn’t higher than the appraised value, and no private mortgage insurance.VA.gov, purchase loan (updated January 7, 2026)
- Funding fee: 2.15% of the loan amount on first use with less than 5% down. Some borrowers are exempt, including those receiving VA compensation for a service-connected disability.VA.gov, funding fee and closing costs (updated September 22, 2026)
- Occupancy: you must live in the home you buy with the loan.VA.gov, purchase loan
Physician-mortgage programs
- These are individual lenders’ products, not a federal program, so there is no single standard.
- Each lender sets its own down payment, mortgage-insurance and debt rules, and who qualifies.
- Compare the written terms side by side with a VA quote for the same house. The physician mortgage loans guide covers the details.
Applying together
- VA’s regulations let a veteran’s spouse join the loan and the title without VA’s prior approval, and the guaranty is still based on the whole loan.38 CFR 36.4308(b)
- When the spouse is on the loan and employed, the lender counts both incomes if the veteran’s alone isn’t enough.38 CFR 36.4340(f)(1)
- Texas is a community property state. In those states, VA’s rule lets the lender request and consider a spouse’s income, assets and debts even when the spouse is not on the loan.IRS Publication 555; 38 CFR 36.4340(f)(1)
$1,374–$2,787
2026 BAH a month · TX286 Fort Hood, TX
What is Fort Hood’s 2026 BAH, and does your town change it?
Fort Hood’s 2026 BAH (military housing area TX286) runs $1,374 to $2,787 a month by pay grade and dependency status, per DTMO’s rate lookup on October 4, 2026. DTMO bases BAH on rank, dependency status and the permanent duty station’s ZIP code, so the town you buy in doesn’t change it; the Fort Hood BAH calculator lists every grade.
Taxes and school districts · by address
How do property taxes and school districts change by address?
A Texas property tax bill adds up every taxing unit on the parcel: the city, the county, the school district, a college district and any special district. Rates are quoted per $100 of taxable value. Below is the city rate for each town; the full rate for a house comes from its parcel record. Copperas Cove’s city taxes are collected by the Coryell County tax office; the other seven towns are on Bell County’s tax rolls.
| Town | City rate, 2025 | City rate adopted for 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Killeen | $0.7014 | $0.7301 |
| Nolanville | $0.5383 | $0.5671 |
| Harker Heights | $0.5300 | not confirmed |
| Belton | $0.5225 | $0.5619 |
| Temple | $0.6999 | $0.7500 |
| Morgan’s Point Resort | $0.6398 | not confirmed |
| Salado | $0.4231 | $0.3797 |
| Copperas Cove | $0.686419 | not confirmed |
“Not confirmed” means the county database did not yet show a confirmed 2026 adoption for that city when checked. 2026 bills use the 2026 rates.
Ask before you offer
Special districts can cost more than the city
Bell CAD’s 2025 table lists Bell County MUD #1 at $0.7830, MUD #2 at $0.9500 and River Farm MUD No 1 at $1.0000 per $100, each higher than any city rate above. Ask whether a house is in a municipal utility district before you write an offer.
To price a specific house: find the parcel in Bell CAD’s property search (Coryell CAD for Copperas Cove), list its taxing units, and apply each unit’s rate from the county’s property tax database to its taxable value after exemptions. The Temple TX property taxes guide walks through a full bill.
Which school district serves a house?
The address decides it, not the mailing city. In the October 3, 2026 CTXMLS export, listing agents entered 6 different school districts for the 640 active listings with a Temple mailing city. Check the exact address with the district before you rely on it:
- Belton ISD attendance boundaries
- Killeen ISD attendance zones
- Temple ISD attendance boundaries
- Salado ISD elementary attendance zones
- Copperas Cove ISD attendance zones
- Texas Education Agency School District Locator
This page does not compare or score districts.
Questions
What else do people ask about living between Fort Hood and BSW Temple?
Which towns have the shortest combined drive to Fort Hood and BSW Temple?
Measured from each town’s anchor point on October 4, 2026, Killeen totals 28.0 to 28.1 combined road miles to Fort Hood’s Bernie Beck Main Gate and Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple, Nolanville 29.0 to 29.1, Harker Heights 29.3 to 29.4 and Belton 29.7 to 29.8. Temple totals 32.3 to 33.3. Combined miles are one input; prices, taxes and the specific address matter as much.
How far is Fort Hood’s main gate from BSW Temple?
Bernie Beck Main Gate to Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Temple measured 28.3 road miles in both routing engines on October 4, 2026, about 32 to 35 minutes of free-flow driving. Rush hour, gate processing and the drive on post are not included.
Can one house be financed with both a VA loan and a physician mortgage?
Not as two first mortgages: a house carries one first mortgage, so the household chooses one loan program for the purchase. A VA purchase loan requires that you live in the home, has no private mortgage insurance and, on first use with less than 5% down, charges a funding fee of 2.15% of the loan amount unless you are exempt. Physician-mortgage terms are set by each lender.
Can a veteran and a non-veteran spouse apply for a VA loan together?
Yes. VA’s regulations let a veteran’s spouse join the loan and the title without VA’s prior approval, and the guaranty is still based on the whole loan (38 CFR 36.4308(b)). When the spouse is on the loan and employed, the lender counts both incomes if the veteran’s income alone is not enough. Texas is a community property state, and in those states VA’s rule lets a lender consider a spouse’s information even when the spouse is not on the loan (38 CFR 36.4340(f)(1)).
Does the town you buy in change your BAH?
No. DTMO bases BAH on rank, dependency status and the permanent duty station ZIP code. A Fort Hood assignment uses military housing area TX286, where 2026 rates run from $1,374 to $2,787 a month by pay grade and dependency status.
How do I find the tax rate and school district for a specific house?
Look up the address, not the town. Bell CAD’s property search shows the taxing units on a Bell County parcel, and the county’s property tax database shows each unit’s rate; for Copperas Cove, use Coryell County’s records. Each school district publishes its own attendance lookup, and the Texas Education Agency’s School District Locator covers the state.
Talk to an agent
Want both drives checked on real addresses?
The table above measures town anchor points. Your commute starts at a front door. Send the two work locations and a budget, and Taylor will check the drives and the numbers on the actual houses you are weighing.
Two commutes · your addresses · a personal reply
Your corridor plan, built on real addresses
Tell Taylor where the two commutes go and what you want to spend. He replies personally, with no automated report, and checks the drives and numbers on the houses you send or ask him to find.
What you get
- Both drives checked from the actual addresses you are considering, not town centers
- Active listings and recent closed sales near both commutes, from the MLS
- The taxing units and school district for each address, looked up rather than assumed
The BAH field is optional and only frames the budget conversation.
Keep reading
Sources and dates
Where do these numbers come from?
- Commutes: OSRM (router.project-osrm.org) and Valhalla (valhalla1.openstreetmap.de) on OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL; report a map error), free-flow, measured October 4, 2026. The gate point is the Army’s published Bernie Beck Main Gate location; the hospital point is the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder match for 2401 S 31st St, Temple, TX 76508; town anchors are the same points our Fort Hood relocation guide uses, plus Morgan’s Point Resort’s city offices. Combined miles add the two legs as printed, low with low and high with high, so a total can differ by a tenth of a mile from an engine’s own unrounded sum.
- Prices: CTXMLS whole-market export observed October 3, 2026, Bell County residential; closed sales Aug. 4–Oct. 3, 2026. Aggregates only; no listing is shown.
- Loans: VA.gov pages on loan limits, purchase loans and the funding fee; eCFR 38 CFR 36.4308(b) and 38 CFR 36.4340(f)(1); IRS Publication 555.
- BAH: Defense Travel Management Office BAH rate lookup, read October 4, 2026.
- Taxes: Bell CAD 2025 Tax Rate Table; City of Copperas Cove 2026 hearing notice; Bell County property tax database, checked October 4, 2026.
- School districts: each district’s attendance page and the TEA School District Locator.
- Photos by Taylor Dasch: I-14/US 190 in Harker Heights (September 2, 2026) and BSW Medical Center – Temple (October 3, 2026).
Original page first published March 31, 2026; restored and re-researched October 2026.
Updated October 5, 2026. Taylor Dasch, real estate agent, EG Realty, Temple, Texas. Informational only; not legal, tax or lending advice.