If you’re about to be stationed at Fort Polk, your biggest question might be, where will I live?
And that question can only be answered depending on your wants and needs.
How close do you want to be to the base?
Do you like rural areas or do you prefer being in town?
Do you have kids?
Which schools do you want them to attend? What types of activities do you want them to be involved in?
If you choose to live on base, click here and here for a breakdown of your options and more guidance.
Many soldiers, especially those with larger families and/or pets, choose to live off post in one of several communities surrounding Fort Polk because it is easier to find larger dwellings with acreage or large yards. Homes in the communities also tend to offer more privacy. To search for homes for sale or rent, go to Zillow.com and enter search terms such as “Vernon Parish, La.” or “Beauregard Parish, La.” or any of the towns named in this article.
When you find homes you’re interested in, use a mapping tool such as Google Maps or Mapquest to determine what sort of commute you’ll be facing for work and school. A word about the schools in Vernon Parish: you can choose to send your children to whichever school you like best. However, if your child plays varsity sports and does not live in that school’s district, then your child must sit out a full year before being eligible to play according to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) which governs the state’s high school athletics. Speak to the principal at the school you choose for more information and guidance.
The nearest towns to Fort Polk headed north on U.S. Highway 171 are New Llano (5.1 miles away) and Leesville (6.8 milies). Many families choose these towns because of their proximity to the base and the schools, which are larger and offer more amenities than the smaller, rural schools.
A little further north on U.S. 171 are Anacoco (21 miles) and Hornbeck (30 miles). Many Fort Polk families enjoy the quiet country living these communities offer. The schools are smaller, but they are top notch in terms of academic performance, as are all of the schools in Vernon Parish.
The North entrance to Fort Polk on Louisiana Highway 28 is close to Hicks (16 miles) and Simpson (19.3 miles) which are also good choices for military families, especially if you’d like the option of being closer to Alexandria for short trips that include more restaurant and shopping options.
To the south of Fort Polk on U.S. 171 there is Pickering (4.1 miles from Entrance Road) and Rosepine (12.1 miles), and further south is DeRidder (16.1 miles). From DeRidder it is only another hour to Lake Charles, where the restaurant and shopping options are much expanded.
The following real estate companies have a long history of helping soldiers and their families with their real estate needs. (If you represent a real estate company and would like to be listed here, let us know in the comments below).
Which housing options sound most appealing to you as you plan your move?
Let us know what issues you’re facing by joining one of our social media groups and engaging with us there or send us your questions about Fort Polk and the surrounding communities by commenting below!
We’ll be happy to answer, and if we don’t know, we’ll find out for you. We can’t wait to see you!
Contact Us:
Fort Polk Newcomers
PO Box 1191
Leesville, LA 71496
anna@armedforcesalliance.com
Great place to live!