Mountain Home Air Force Base, an ACC installation, is located 12 miles (19 km) southwest of the city. Opened in 1943, MHAFB was originally a bomber training base during World War II. Later an operational SAC bomber base, it switched to TAC and fighters in 1966.
Mountain Home is the principal city of the Mountain Home, ID Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Elmore County.
"Mountain Home" was originally a post office at Rattlesnake Station, a stagecoach stop on the Overland Stage Line, about seven miles (11 km) east of the city, on present-day US-20. With the addition of the Oregon Short Linerailroad in 1883, the post office was moved to the city's present site.
Interstate 84 bypasses the city, running about a mile east. US-20 splits from I-84 at exit 95, and heads eastbound toward Fairfield. State Highway 51 heads south-southwest towards Bruneau and on to Nevada. State Highway 67 heads west-southwest toward the base and on to Grand View.
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,143 people, 4,337 households, and 2,957 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,150.8 people per square mile (830.6/km²). There were 4,738 housing units at an average density of 914.5/sq mi (353.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.89% White, 2.61% African American, 0.94% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.31% Pacific Islander, 3.41% from other races, and 3.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.33% of the population.
There were 4,337 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,307, and the median income for a family was $41,485. Males had a median income of $28,724 versus $21,905 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,029. About 8.6% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Mountain Home is served by two Idaho school districts. Mountain Home High School, Mountain Home Junior High School,and Hacker Middle School, along with East, West and North elementaries are all served by District 193. Richard McKenna Charter High School is the only school in District 453.
