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• Location: In the Ozark Mountains of North Central Arkansas, 20 miles south of the Missouri border

• Population: 11,112 in town -- 39,113 in Baxter County

• Average temperature and rainfall:
  
  

  Fahrenheit used for temperature and inches for rainfall
  Month	Min.	Max.	Mean	Rainfall
  January	24.2	46.3	35.3	2.35
  February	28.2	51.4	39.8	2.86
  March	36.1	59.9	48.0	4.09
  April	47.0	71.9	59.4	4.40
  May	55.3	78.8	67.1	4.90
  June	63.0	86.3	74.7	4.16
  July	67.4	91.2	79.3	3.09
  August	65.5	90.2	77.9	2.62
  September	58.8	83.5	71.1	3.68
  October	47.0	74.0	60.5	2.88
  November	36.4	59.9	48.2	3.85
  December	25.8	50.2	39.5	3.19
  Yearly Average	46.5	70.3	58.4	42.07

• Cost of Living: Below average

• Average housing cost: $90,000. Most homes under 10 years old run $110,000 to $150,000.

• Sales tax: 7.5%
  Sales tax exemption: Medical/professional services and prescription drugs.

• State income tax: Graduated from 1% to 7%, depending on taxable income. Social security benefits and the first $6,000 of private pensions are exempt. A tax credit is given for income taxes paid to other states for full-time residents. Intangible taxes: None Estate taxes: None

• Property taxes: In Mountain Home, $37.71 per $1,000 of assessed value, with homes assessed at 20 percent of market value. Yearly tax on a $90,000 home is $679. Also, specified personal property, including vehicles, livestock and farm equipment, is subject to taxes at the same rate as homes. A yearly Homestead deduction of $300.00 is applied to primary residence which reduces yearly tax on a $90,000 home to $379.

• Automobile and Boat Registration: Automobiles and non-commercial pickup registration is $25 per year. Boat, motor and trailer registration is $11 per year.

• Homestead Exemption: Local property taxes must be paid, but a rebate from the state is available to seniors with incomes below $15,000. Also, taxes can be frozen for individuals 65 years or older

• Security: 11.4 crimes per 1,000 people in Baxter County vs. a national average of 21.9 per 1,000 residents in rural counties with population of 25,000 or more and a national average of 53.7 per 1,000 people. Police response time: Average of 3 minutes vs. a national average of 30 minutes.

• Religion: Over 50 churches represent a wide range of denominations.

• Education: Arkansas State University-Mountain Home is located in a new multi-million dollar campus and is presently offering two-year classes and occupational, technical and vocational programs. Seniors may attend credit courses tuition-free on a space-available basis.

• Transportation: Baxter County Regional Airport will have commuter service to St. Louis and Dallas, and there is long-distance bus service provided by Greyhound Bus Agency. Taxi cabs and Area Agency on Aging busses provide local service.

• Health: Baxter County Regional Hospital in Mountain Home has 300 beds, more than 100 specialized physicians and 24-hour emergency room service. Other features include a Radiation Therapy Institute, cardiac-care unit and physical therapy unit.

• Housing options: A variety of housing is available in town, in nearby communities and on the lakes and rivers. There are no planned retirement communities. Areas popular with retirees include Village Green, Indian Creek, Southern Meadows, Northern Hills and Carlile Highlands. There also are independent-living facilities for seniors and six nursing homes in the area.

• Visitor Lodging: The Comfort Inn (800-924-9449 or 870-424-9000) and the Best Western Carriage Inn
  (870-425-6001) are available to our customers at a significant savings. Lakeside resorts are plentiful for around $500 a week, depending upon amenities.

• Twin Lakes: Lake Norfork and Bull Shoals Lake are separated by only a few miles of land. Together, the lakes create up to 1,560 miles of shoreline. Lake Norfork's shoreline curves around 510 miles while Bull Shoals Lake's winds 1,050 miles. Fishing season is open year-round on both lakes.

• Three Rivers: Two of our most treasured resources are the White River and the North Fork River, controlled by Bull Shoals Dam and Norfork Dam. Also, just a short drive away, is the magnificent Buffalo national River. The White and North Fork Rivers are world-famous for their record trout, while the Buffalo River offers the beauty of the clear, clean water winding around steep rock bluffs.

• Mountain Home and the surrounding area provide: