Fort Leonard Wood is in Pulaski County, Missouri, near the communities of Waynesville (4,800), St. Robert (4,300), and Richland (1,850) within 20-35 minutes of base, and 40 minutes away or more are Rolla (20,000) and Lebanon (14,500). Slightly further afield (about an hour and a half drive) is Jefferson City, with a population of about 43,000.

Local Housing Rental Prices: The average apartment rent in Waynesville ranges from $331 to $678 per month, with a median of about $476 per month. Rolla is very similar in price, while Richland is much less expensive (and much smaller) with an average rent of $210. St. Robert has an average of $574 with a range from $428-$800 per month.

Local Housing Purchase Prices: The average price for a house in Pulaski County is about $120,000, compared to $139,000 for Missouri.

Short Description of the Area: Pulaski County is in south central Missouri with a population of 52,274. Waynesville is the seat of the county. The area is also known as the Ozark Mountains or Ozark Highland for the mountain-like plateaus that cover much of Missouri and Arkansas. The nearest major city is the capital of Jefferson City, population of 43,000, 78 miles north of base. St. Louis is about 135 miles to the northeast.

Climate and Weather: The Fort Leonard Wood area has a humid, subtropical climate. The average temperature is January is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, while July's average is 78 degrees. August can experience very high winds of over 40 mph. The annual precipitation is about 44.3 inches, which is just a few inches more than the Missouri average, and has about 68 days with precipitation each year. The annual snow amount is 9.5 inches, mostly from December to March. There is less risk here of a tornado than the entire state, but it is more common than the country as a whole.