Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
A town of 480, settled in 1901.
Mackay has 2 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Mackay Episcopal Church and Mackay Methodist Episcopal Church. Mackay has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Mackay beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 638 in 1910, a peak of 869 in 1920, 439 in 2020. The archive holds 8 old photos and papers going back to 1909 and 3 maps from 1940 on.
2 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Mackay, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ordered by what stands out in Mackay.
Since 2013, Mackay has lost 26 jobs, to 296 in 2023. In Mackay, about one in five working residents works in town. The share of residents in Mackay who live below the poverty line: 20%. Half the trips to work are shorter than 51 miles.
| Mackay | Idaho towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 12% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 16 minutes | 20 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 21% | 22% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Public schools: the Mackay Joint District. Its two schools are below. The 2 public schools in Mackay teach 218 students between them.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackay Elementary SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 114 | C |
| Mackay Jr./Sr. High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 7–12 | Grades 7–12 | 104 | C |
NCES · EDFacts
Mackay has grown 8.6% since 2020, to 480 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. People 65 and older are 36% of residents (17% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 6% of residents (23% statewide). 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 32% across Idaho.
| Mackay | Idaho towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 61.7 years | 35.1 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 25% | 29% |
60% women, 40% men
About 68 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±5.6 points). Across Idaho, 49.7% of residents are women.
| Mackay | ID | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.3% | 12.5% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 0% | 11.6% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.6% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 0% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 7.1% | 13.1% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 9.5% | 11.3% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 25.2% | 11.7% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 16.1% | 10.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 20.1% | 6.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.9% | 8.1% | 10.4% |
| High school | 40% | 26.1% | 26% |
| Some college | 20.4% | 24.2% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 3.2% | 9.7% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 22.3% | 21.3% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 6.2% | 10.5% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
Since 1997, one flood insurance claim has been paid in Mackay. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 87% of U.S. communities.
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Values rose 4% in the 12 months to September 2026. In Mackay, 75% of households are owner-occupiers, against 70% in Idaho’s towns and 73% across U.S. towns.
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
In Mackay, 7.8% of adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance, where Idaho’s towns sit at 11% and U.S. towns at 8.1%. Among 60 Idaho towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who have been diagnosed with depression than Mackay. Mackay: 14% of adults have diabetes. Against the Idaho average, Mackay comes out ahead on 8 CDC measures out of 32, and behind on 9.
| Mackay | Idaho towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 30% | 33% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 41% | 31% | 35% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 34% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 15% | 16% |
| What stands out | Mackay | ID |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 7.8% | 10.7% |
| Fewer adults facing housing insecurity | 8.1% | 10.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.5% | 6.2% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. City of Mackay Tourist Park | — | 7 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Mackay; the nearest are
About 4 of every 100 Mackay residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Idaho.
Where Mackay’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Idaho, United States
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.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Mackay has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.