Welcoming city of transplants in beautiful north-central Arkansas
Mountain Home is a city of about 13,000 nestled in rural north-central Arkansas, surrounded by several lakes and rivers. Retirees from up north have been flocking to Mountain Home for decades to take advantage of low-cost living in a state that does not tax pensions and offers a rare combination of seclusion and community. “What makes Mountain Home so attractive is that it’s 90 percent transplants, so you never feel like an outsider. Everyone is so welcoming,” says Kimberly Koenen, a local Realtor who got into the business after moving from the Chicago suburbs to Mountain Home. “My husband and I came down for a weekend getaway while my son was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, so it was a stressful time. I wasn’t here one hour and it was the first time that I felt at peace. I told my husband, ‘I want to sell everything we own and move to Arkansas!’ It was an out-of-this-world experience. I started Southern Breeze Realty to help everyone I can find that same thing.”
Mountain Home Arkansas is nestled among the Ozark Mountains.
Mountain Home welcomes visitors and residents from all around.
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Lake Norfork, Bull Shoals Lake and the Buffalo River are featured attractions
Residents are within minutes of Lake Norfork to the east and Bull Shoals Lake to the northwest. Both are among the top sportfishing destinations in the region. The lakes are large enough to attract boaters and watercraft enthusiasts. The White River and Buffalo River converge about 15 miles south, and a few miles east is the North Fork River. In 1972, the Buffalo was designated as the first national river. It is one of the few undamned rivers remaining in the U.S., making it a regional favorite for canoeing among the picturesque bluffs of the Ozarks. The city’s several parks offer an array of amenities for baseball, softball and soccer. Fishing ponds, an all-inclusive playground, and dedicated centers for youth and seniors also can be found. A $38 million community and aquatic center is expected to open in 2026. Golfers have access to a pair of city courses.
Norfork Lake is a short drive outside Mountain Home.
Mountain Home is close to the Buffalo River.
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Everything from trailers to million-dollar homes
The median housing price of $230,000 is a bit higher than the state average. “You’ll find everything from $30,000 trailers in mobile home parks to million-dollar homes on golf courses, lakes and rivers,” Koenen says. Ranch-style homes on spacious lots and contemporary brick-built homes in subdivision settings are common. Some of the most expensive options can be found at the Big Creek Country Club golf course community. New construction includes attached patio homes in Big Creek and planned 55-plus developments. Homebuyers can expect a smalltown atmosphere. “When I got here, people said, ‘Hello,’ and ‘How are you doing?’” Koenen says. “And they actually wanted to know how I was. I wasn’t used to that.” Residents enjoy a temperate climate with all four seasons, but Mountain Home is one of the snowier places in the state. It receives around 9 inches per year.
The Mountain Home housing markets offers a full range of options in size and layout.
The Big Creek Country Club offers custom built homes situated along the courses fairways.
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Pinkston Middle is top-rated school in Mountain Home School District
Students are served by the Mountain Home School District, which earns an A-minus from Niche. The city’s educational pipeline comprises five schools. Mountain Home Kindergarten is dedicated to pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students only. Pinkston Middle School, which serves sixth and seventh graders, is the city’s top-rated school, with an A grade from Niche. “When we moved here, I still had six of my eight kids in school. It took them three months to catch up because of the core curriculum,” Koenen says. “And for sports, it was great, too. Where we came from, if you didn’t keep your grades up, you didn’t play. But here, they picked you up and didn’t leave you behind. They helped you.”
Pinkston Middle School is part of the Mountain Home public school district.
Mountain Home High School is home to the Bombers.
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City features state's first downtown entertainment district
The city was on the cutting edge of downtown development when it opened the state’s first entertainment district in 2019. The designation allows public drinking within the district’s boundaries. The purpose is to generate more business and increase tourism dollars by allowing visitors to travel freely between bars and restaurants. A variety of additional dining options is concentrated along the U.S. Route 62 commercial corridor, along with big-box retailers and grocery stores.
The Baker District in downtown Mountain Home offers a variety of local flavors and entertainment.
Rapp's Barren Brewing Co. brings a friendly atmosphere to downtown Mountain Home.
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Mountain Home Art Walk is a unique cultural attraction
The Mountain Home Art Walk features large sculptures along miles of walkable trails that connect the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home with McCabe Park. Occasional exhibits by featured artists offer visitors the chance to vote on their favorite works, with those sculptures becoming permanent additions. Music is on tap from early June into August courtesy of the annual Baxter Summer Concert Series at Hickory Park.
The Arkansas State University campus in Mountain Home has a paved ArtWalk trail.
Hickory Park with it's large pavilion brings outdoor music during warmer months.
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U.S. Highway 412 connects residents to Harrison's regional airport
Several major highways crisscross the city. U.S. Route 412 provides direct access to Harrison and the Boone County Regional Airport about 50 miles west. The North Arkansas Transportation Service provides bus service Monday through Friday. NATS also offers a “dial-a-ride” service, and Medicare will reimburse the cost of trips for medical purposes.
Current data on city crime rates was not available.
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