Mackay (pronounced ) is a town in Custer County, Idaho, United States. The population was 439 at the 2020 census. The town is pronounced "Mackie" with the accent on the first syllable.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code83251

Area code208

Living in Mackay

Housing in Mackay

$325K▲ 5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Mackay home is worth about $325,000, up 5% in a year, 32% below the Idaho typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Mackay

Full picture →

About one in 5 of Mackay’s working residents works in town. The top destinations are Challis (22%), Idaho Falls (6%) and Stanley (4%). Half commute less than 51 miles.

Challis

22%

Idaho Falls

Stanley

Salmon

21%Work in townlive and work in Mackay 51 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 296Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Mackay →

Health in Mackay

Compared with Idaho

8better than ID·9worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 15 are too close to call.

Conditions 1▲ 8▼ 3 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care 5▲ 2 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs 1▲ 3 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

7.8%Fewer uninsured adultsID 10.7% · better 8.1%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityID 10.3% · better 9.5%More adults with heart diseaseID 6.2% · worse

Care nearby

Lost Rivers Medical CenterArco · 24.5 mi · ER · rural critical access

Fhs Bellevue Co. Response OfficeBellevue · 44.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Mackay · CMS · HRSAHealth in Mackay →

Natural hazards in Mackay

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 87% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🏔️ Avalanches🏚️ Earthquakes

1Does Mackay flood?paid flood claims since 1997 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 5 declared for Custer County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Mackay →

Climate in Mackay

Full climate →

Mackay has cold winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 6°, and about 18 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

31° / 8°Winter

54° / 28°Spring

79° / 45°Summer

56° / 28°Fall

How much snow does Mackay get?About 18 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 20, with the last in spring around Jun 1.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Mackay →

Schools in Mackay

All Mackay schools →

School Grade C

The public schools Mackay’s kids attend trail 73% of Idaho’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictMACKAY JOINT DISTRICTSchools2

Mackay Elementary School CElementary · Grades PK–6 · 114 students Mackay Jr./Sr. High School CHigh · Grades 7–12 · 104 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within ID. Ratings are from neighbors.