Mountain Home, AR Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Mountain Home, AR: What You Need to Know

Mountain Home, a picturesque little city in northern Arkansas, is surrounded by Norfork and Bull Shoals Lakes and the White and North Fork Rivers. It’s one of the state’s first water resort and retirement areas.

Things to Do in Mountain Home

There’s nothing quite like Ozark Folk Center State Park, which is dedicated to the culture, craft, and music of the Ozark Mountains. At the Craft Village, visitors can watch artisans creating baskets and pottery pieces. Start your exploration of the Ozarks at the Blanchard Springs Recreation Area, located within the Ozark National Forest. Go fishing in Mirror Lake or in one of the streams. Hiking and mountain biking are also popular activities in the area.

Local History

Originally known as Rapp’s Barren, the town was named after Henry Rapp, who settled in the region around 1810. The word “barren” referred to the open prairie land, but residents thought the name didn’t do their beautiful surroundings justice. In 1857, the new post office was designated as Mountain Home, which might have come from slaves who called their plantation “my sweet mountain home.”

Weather and Climate

Mountain Home gets only nine inches of snow annually versus the U.S. average of 28 inches, which made the ice storm on Jan. 27, 2009, all the more unusual. Mountain Home and Baxter County received about two inches of ice accumulation. The weight of the ice brought down more than 30,000 power poles and trees. Over 400,000 homes in northern Arkansas lost electricity and telephone service. Clean-up in Baxter County cost about $5 million. 

Cost of Living

In Mountain Home, newcomers will get a mixed bag when it comes to taxes. The city’s cost of living rate and housing costs are 11.3% and 24.1% lower than the national average, respectively, with the median gross rent at $686. However, food cost is 5.2% higher than the national average. Also, Arkansas has one of the highest sales taxes in the country at 6.50% to 11.625%. The state levies 0% to 6.90% in income tax. 

Know Your Neighborhoods

Mountain Home (population: 12,569) is the seat of Baxter County. Retirees love the city for its relaxed pace, outdoor recreational activities, and safety. Gassville and Norfork are even smaller than Mountain Home but their public schools are highly ranked. The river that runs through Norfork is a major draw. The entire region is known for its serenity, so don’t expect a wild nightlife.