Below Average CostSafer than AverageMount Vernon Comm School District
Mount-Vernon-Commercial-2 (cropped) · ArtisticAbode / CC BY-SA 3.0703 6th Avenue North West, Ash Park Historic District (cropped) · Jim Roberts / CC BY-SA 4.0Mount Vernon Chalk the Walk · Nater27 / CC BY-SA 4.0The Wesley West House · Jim Roberts / CC BY-SA 4.0
Mount Vernon is a small town of 4,529 in Iowa, with a median household income of $98,991
and a 4.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount Vernon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Mount Vernon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Mount Vernon city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 90.0
Mount Vernon's overall cost of living index is 90.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Vernon costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Vernon, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$234,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$714
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$98,991
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 206.4 per 100,000 residents
— 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
206.4 /100k
Property Crime
1812.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Vernon is served primarily by Mount Vernon Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mount Vernon, IA
National Avg
School District
Mount Vernon Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
48.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Vernon sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 85.5°F in July,
with 38.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.3 inches of snow per year.
Mount Vernon's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Vernon roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $234,400 and median rent is $714/month.
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 206.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1812.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Vernon are operated by Mount Vernon Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. 48.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Vernon, IA has a population of 4,529, a median household income of $98,991, and an unemployment rate of 4.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Mount Vernon averages 30.0°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 38.5 inches
with about 34.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Vernon, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 52314.
The population of Mount Vernon, Iowa is 4,529 with a median age of 21.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Vernon: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $234,400, median household income $98,991, crime index 67 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Mount Vernon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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