Mackay, Idaho Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 602, Mackay's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Mackay is a small community located in Idaho, within Custer County. The total population is 602. It ranks as the 132nd most populous out of 232 Census-designated places in Idaho.

Age Demographics

The median age in Mackay is 61.7 years. This is 65% higher than the state median of 37.3 years. 20.1% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Mackay is $43,897. This is 44% lower than the state median of $77,800. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 19.9%. This is 88% higher than the state poverty rate of 10.6%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Mackay, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $279,500. Housing costs are 33% lower than the state median of $418,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.4x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 74.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% higher than the state average of 72.1%.

Race & Ethnicity

Mackay has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.2% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 8.3%.

Education

28.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 10% lower than the state rate of 31.8%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 92.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Mackay, Idaho is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Idaho state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 232 Census-designated places in Idaho. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.