The Town FilesMount Vernon, Ohio
City in Knox County · population 16,956 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $174,000
- Household income
- $53,845
- Jan low / Jul high
- 17° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 32 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 39.0
Mount Vernon is a city of 16,956 people in Knox County, Ohio. The median home is worth $174,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). It ranks hipper than 92% of Ohio towns, better for cycling than 88% of Ohio towns, better for retirees than 79% of Ohio towns.
How Mount Vernon ranks
Percentile among Ohio towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Ohio towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Vernon is worth $174,000, close to the typical Ohio town ($171,100). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $53,845, which is more affordable than 21% of Ohio towns. Median rent is $948 a month. 55.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Vernon | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $174,000 | $171,100 |
| Median rent | $948 | $914 |
| Median household income | $53,845 | $67,019 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 2.6× |
| Homeownership | 55.1% | 71.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1965 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.3% | — |
Who lives in Mount Vernon
| People | Mount Vernon | Typical Ohio town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 19.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.5% | 21.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.9% | 10.3% |
| Veterans | 6.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 12.2% | 8.6% |
| Average commute | 18.4 min | 23.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 90.9% |
Weather in Mount Vernon
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F. About 42.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 32.1 inches of snow (typical Ohio town: 23.8 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 145 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Ohio town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on September 20, 2000 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 26, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 9, 2012.
Severe weather in Knox County since 1996
Knox County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for other, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4507: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3457: Covid-19 |
| August 20, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4077: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 30, 2012 | Severe Storm | EM-3346: Severe Storms |
| October 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1805: Severe Wind Storm Associated With Tropical Depression Ike |
Jobs and pay in Knox County
Knox County had 20,571 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,637 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Mount Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Mount Vernon
8 public schools with 3,743 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Vernon High School | 9-12 | 990 | 18.7 |
| Mount Vernon Middle School | 6-8 | 836 | 15.8 |
| Knox County Career Center | 9-12 | 470 | 10.2 |
| Twin Oak Elementary School | PK-5 | 375 | 18.8 |
| Pleasant Street Elementary School | PK-5 | 339 | 17.0 |
| Columbia Elementary School | PK-5 | 252 | 19.4 |
| Dan Emmett Elementary School | PK-5 | 251 | 15.7 |
| East Elementary School | PK-5 | 230 | 17.7 |
Towns near Mount Vernon
- Fredericktown, OH7.6 mi · 2,648 people · home $171,200
- Apple Valley, OH7.6 mi · 5,352 people · home $287,700
- Johnstown, OH19.8 mi · 5,182 people · home $347,900
- Lexington, OH21.0 mi · 4,848 people · home $192,300
- Loudonville, OH21.4 mi · 2,786 people · home $168,900
- Newark, OH21.8 mi · 49,934 people · home $192,300
- Mount Gilead, OH21.9 mi · 3,503 people · home $174,300
- Granville, OH22.7 mi · 5,946 people · home $502,300
Mount Vernon questions
Is Mount Vernon, Ohio a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Vernon scores better for retirees than 79% of Ohio towns and quieter than 30%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.0).
How much does a house cost in Mount Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Vernon is valued at $174,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,845, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $948 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Vernon?
July highs average 82.3°F and January lows 16.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.4 inches of precipitation a year and 32.1 inches of snow.
Does Mount Vernon get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on September 20, 2000. The typical Ohio town has had 16.
- 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)