Mount Vernon is a small town of 483 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $55,833
and a 2.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 85 (US average = 100), which is
15% below the national average.
Strengths:
Mount Vernon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
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: 84.7
Mount Vernon's overall cost of living index is 84.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Mount Vernon costs roughly 15% less than the average American city.
Metric
Mount Vernon, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$137,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$386
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
61.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$55,833
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 217.4 per 100,000 residents
— 43% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
217.4 /100k
Property Crime
1603.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Mount Vernon is served primarily by Mount Vernon School District 17-3.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Mount Vernon, SD
National Avg
School District
Mount Vernon School District 17-3
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Mount Vernon sees average highs of 27.3°F in January
and 87.0°F in July,
with 25.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 40.6 inches of snow per year.
Mount Vernon's cost of living index is 85, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Mount Vernon roughly 15% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $137,500 and median rent is $386/month.
Mount Vernon's violent crime rate is 217.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1603.0 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 School District 17-3.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.2:1. 17.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Mount Vernon, SD has a population of 483, a median household income of $55,833, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%.
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 27.3°F in January and 87.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 25.8 inches
with about 40.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Mount Vernon, SD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 57363.
The population of Mount Vernon, South Dakota is 483 with a median age of 28.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Mount Vernon: cost of living index 85 (100 = US average), median home $137,500, median household income $55,833, crime index 65 (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.
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