The Town FilesMount Vernon, Iowa
City in Linn County · population 4,527 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,200
- Household income
- $112,656
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 25.3
Mount Vernon is a city of 4,527 people in Linn County, Iowa. The median home is worth $245,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks more of a college town than 100% of Iowa towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Iowa towns, better transit than 96% of Iowa towns.
How Mount Vernon ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Vernon is worth $245,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $112,656, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $780 a month. 86.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Vernon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $780 | $820 |
| Median household income | $112,656 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.3% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mount Vernon
| People | Mount Vernon | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.0% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.1% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.2% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.1% | — |
| Work from home | 20.0% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 20.7 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 88.5% |
Weather in Mount Vernon
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.5°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 30.9 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 134 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 20, 1953 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 31, 1971.
Severe weather in Linn County since 1996
Linn County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
| October 31, 2016 | Flood | DR-4289: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| August 5, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4187: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Linn County
Linn County had 125,917 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,613 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Mount Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 4.2%.
Public schools in Mount Vernon
3 public schools with 1,427 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Elementary School | PK-4 | 546 | 13.3 |
| Mount Vernon High School | 9-12 | 478 | 17.1 |
| Mount Vernon Middle School | 5-8 | 403 | 16.1 |
Towns near Mount Vernon
- Solon, IA8.9 mi · 3,018 people · home $309,400
- Marion, IA11.7 mi · 41,535 people · home $241,700
- Cedar Rapids, IA13.3 mi · 137,710 people · home $187,100
- Anamosa, IA14.9 mi · 5,450 people · home $172,600
- North Liberty, IA15.7 mi · 20,479 people · home $303,800
- Hiawatha, IA16.3 mi · 7,183 people · home $216,900
- Robins, IA16.6 mi · 3,353 people · home $413,400
- Coralville, IA17.9 mi · 22,318 people · home $298,500
Mount Vernon questions
Is Mount Vernon, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Vernon scores better for retirees than 31% of Iowa towns and quieter than 1%. 11.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 25.3).
How much does a house cost in Mount Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Vernon is valued at $245,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $112,656, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $780 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Vernon?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 12.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 30.9 inches of snow.
Does Mount Vernon get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 20, 1953. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)