Below Average CostSafer than AverageMACKAY JOINT DISTRICT
Median Income
$39,848
household / year
Median Home Value
$167,800
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$967
gross / month
Cost of Living
92
national avg = 100
Is Mackay, ID a Good Place to Live?
Mackay is a small town of 587 in Idaho, with a median household income of $39,848
.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mackay stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mackay is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mackay city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.3
Mackay's overall cost of living index is 92.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mackay costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mackay, ID
National Avg
Median Home Value
$167,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$967
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
85.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,848
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mackay's violent crime rate is 370.8 per 100,000 residents
— 2% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
370.8 /100k
Property Crime
648.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mackay is served primarily by MACKAY JOINT DISTRICT.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mackay, ID
National Avg
School District
MACKAY JOINT DISTRICT
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
30.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mackay sees average highs of 29.6°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 9.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 18.3 inches of snow per year.
Mackay's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mackay roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $167,800 and median rent is $967/month.
Mackay's violent crime rate is 370.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 648.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mackay are operated by MACKAY JOINT DISTRICT.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 30.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mackay, ID has a population of 587, a median household income of $39,848, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mackay averages 29.6°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 9.9 inches
with about 18.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Mackay, Idaho is 587 with a median age of 52.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mackay: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $167,800, median household income $39,848, crime index 71 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mackay side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.