Mount Vernon is a small town of 2,342 in Kentucky, with a median household income of $34,550
and a 3.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount Vernon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B-), 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: 86.4
Mount Vernon's overall cost of living index is 86.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Vernon costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Vernon, KY
National Avg
Median Home Value
$88,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$683
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$34,550
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 122.1 per 100,000 residents
— 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
122.1 /100k
Property Crime
407.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Vernon is served primarily by Rockcastle County.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mount Vernon, KY
National Avg
School District
Rockcastle County
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
11.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
73.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Vernon sees average highs of 42.3°F in January
and 84.4°F in July,
with 51.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 10.9 inches of snow per year.
Mount Vernon's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Vernon roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $88,000 and median rent is $683/month.
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 122.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 407.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Mount Vernon are operated by Rockcastle County.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 11.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Vernon, KY has a population of 2,342, a median household income of $34,550, and an unemployment rate of 3.7%.
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 42.3°F in January and 84.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.3 inches
with about 10.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Vernon, KY is covered by 1 ZIP code: 40456.
The population of Mount Vernon, Kentucky is 2,342 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Vernon: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $88,000, median household income $34,550, crime index 27 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. 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.
