Vernon, TX City Hall Picture 2207 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Downtown Vernon, TX Picture 2209 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Red River Valley Museum, Vernon, TX Picture 2202 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0Vernon College IMG 0708 · Billy Hathorn at en.wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Vernon is a small city of 10,018 in Texas, with a median household income of $47,528
and a 11.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Vernon stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Vernon is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All 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: 88.7
Vernon's overall cost of living index is 88.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Vernon costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Vernon, TX
National Avg
Median Home Value
$79,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$808
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
56.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$47,528
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Vernon's violent crime rate is 443.1 per 100,000 residents
— 17% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
443.1 /100k
Property Crime
1968.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Vernon is served primarily by VERNON ISD.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Vernon, TX
National Avg
School District
VERNON ISD
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
3
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
78.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Vernon sees average highs of 54.7°F in January
and 97.2°F in July,
with 28.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Vernon's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Vernon roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $79,900 and median rent is $808/month.
Vernon's violent crime rate is 443.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1968.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Vernon are operated by VERNON ISD.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 14.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Vernon, TX has a population of 10,018, a median household income of $47,528, and an unemployment rate of 11.3%.
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.
Vernon averages 54.7°F in January and 97.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.4 inches
with about 1.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Vernon, TX is covered by 1 ZIP code: 76384.
The population of Vernon, Texas is 10,018 with a median age of 36.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Vernon: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $79,900, median household income $47,528, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Vernon side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
