The Town FilesMountain Home, Arkansas
City in Baxter County · population 12,825 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $169,800
- Household income
- $41,274
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 47.1
Mountain Home is a city of 12,825 people in Baxter County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $169,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks hipper than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Arkansas towns, more vibrant than 83% of Arkansas towns.
How Mountain Home ranks
Percentile among Arkansas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Arkansas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mountain Home is worth $169,800, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $41,274, which is more affordable than 8% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $865 a month. 60.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mountain Home | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $169,800 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $865 | $792 |
| Median household income | $41,274 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 60.9% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Mountain Home
| People | Mountain Home | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.1 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.0% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.1% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.8% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 6.2% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 13.2 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Mountain Home
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.8 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 44 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 85 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain Home since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on May 26, 2024 about 6.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 8 deaths and 108 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 99 times; the largest was 4.25 inches on April 2, 2006.
Severe weather in Baxter County since 1996
Baxter County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 30, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4788: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Baxter County
Baxter County had 16,171 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,036 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Mountain Home itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Mountain Home
7 public schools with 3,839 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAIN HOME CAREER ACADEMIES (charter) | 8-12 | 1,517 | 12.1 |
| HACKLER INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 869 | 17.7 |
| PINKSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL | 6-7 | 564 | 13.8 |
| NELSON WILKS HERRON ELEMENTARY | 1-2 | 531 | 17.1 |
| MOUNTAIN HOME KINDERGARTEN | K-K | 284 | 15.8 |
| GUY BERRY COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMY (charter) | 6-12 | 74 | 18.5 |
| ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY-MOUNTAIN HOME CAREER CENTER | 9-12 | — | — |
Mountain Home questions
Is Mountain Home, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mountain Home scores better for retirees than 90% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 42%. 33.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.1).
How much does a house cost in Mountain Home?
The median owner-occupied home in Mountain Home is valued at $169,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $41,274, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $865 a month.
What is the weather like in Mountain Home?
July highs average 89.4°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 7.8 inches of snow.
Does Mountain Home get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mountain Home since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on May 26, 2024. The typical Arkansas town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)