The Town FilesMount Ida, Arkansas
City in Montgomery County · population 996 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $140,900
- Household income
- $37,045
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 47.8
Mount Ida is a city of 996 people in Montgomery County, Arkansas. The median home is worth $140,900, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of Arkansas towns, easier by car than 91% of Arkansas towns, better for retirees than 90% of Arkansas towns.
How Mount Ida 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 Mount Ida is worth $140,900, above the typical Arkansas town ($128,600). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $37,045, which is more affordable than 12% of Arkansas towns. Median rent is $576 a month. 56.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Ida | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $140,900 | $128,600 |
| Median rent | $576 | $792 |
| Median household income | $37,045 | $50,408 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 56.0% | 64.9% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.7% | — |
Who lives in Mount Ida
| People | Mount Ida | Typical Arkansas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.8 | 37.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.4% | 17.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.5% | 16.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.6% | 19.7% |
| Veterans | 8.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 5.3% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.8% | 84.4% |
Weather in Mount Ida
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.3°F. About 57.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.4 inches of snow (typical Arkansas town: 2.6 in). Expect about 46 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 91 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Ida since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Arkansas town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on December 23, 1982 about 9.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 30, 2013.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on November 17, 1957.
Severe weather in Montgomery County since 1996
Montgomery County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541: Hurricane Laura |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Montgomery County
Montgomery County had 1,276 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $36,741 a year. Unemployment was 4.9% in 2023; in Mount Ida itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Public schools in Mount Ida
2 public schools with 434 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOBBY BARRETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | K-6 | 231 | 12.8 |
| MOUNT IDA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 203 | 6.8 |
Towns near Mount Ida
- Glenwood, AR16.3 mi · 2,068 people · home $132,500
- Kirby, AR20.4 mi · 721 people · home $163,700
- Amity, AR21.7 mi · 681 people · home $143,100
- Mountain Pine, AR26.1 mi · 585 people · home —
- Piney, AR27.8 mi · 5,238 people · home $134,400
- Rockwell, AR28.8 mi · 4,548 people · home $289,800
Mount Ida questions
Is Mount Ida, Arkansas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Ida scores better for retirees than 90% of Arkansas towns and quieter than 89%. 31.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.8).
How much does a house cost in Mount Ida?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Ida is valued at $140,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,045, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $576 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Ida?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 28.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 57.9 inches of precipitation a year and 4.4 inches of snow.
Does Mount Ida get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Ida since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on December 23, 1982. 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)