Below Average CostSafer than AverageClintn/Jeffrsn/Marin/Washngtn ROE
Mount Vernon, Illinois · Paul Sableman / CC BY 2.0Mount Vernon, Illinois City Hall · Robert Lawton / CC BY 2.55th District Appellate Court · Robert Lawton / CC BY 2.5Jefferson County Courthouse in Mount Vernon · Nyttend / Public domain
Mount Vernon is a small city of 14,740 in Illinois, with a median household income of $48,786
and a 8.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount Vernon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 91.5
Mount Vernon's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Vernon costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Vernon, IL
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$872
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
54.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,786
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 247.4 per 100,000 residents
— 35% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
247.4 /100k
Property Crime
1088.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Vernon is served primarily by Clintn/Jeffrsn/Marin/Washngtn ROE.
Metric
Mount Vernon, IL
National Avg
School District
Clintn/Jeffrsn/Marin/Washngtn ROE
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
5
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
92.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Vernon sees average highs of 38.5°F in January
and 85.7°F in July,
with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.4 inches of snow per year.
Mount Vernon's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Vernon roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,800 and median rent is $872/month.
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 247.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1088.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Vernon are operated by Clintn/Jeffrsn/Marin/Washngtn ROE.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and 5 high schools.
19.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Vernon, IL has a population of 14,740, a median household income of $48,786, and an unemployment rate of 8.2%.
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 38.5°F in January and 85.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches
with about 10.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Vernon, IL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 62864.
The population of Mount Vernon, Illinois is 14,740 with a median age of 38.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Vernon: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $88,800, median household income $48,786, crime index 60 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.
