The Town FilesVernon, Texas
City in Wilbarger County · population 10,078 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $87,000
- Household income
- $51,114
- Jan low / Jul high
- 29° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 37
- Median age
- 37.6
Vernon is a city of 10,078 people in Wilbarger County, Texas. The median home is worth $87,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). It ranks better for cycling than 97% of Texas towns, more walkable than 88% of Texas towns, hipper than 88% of Texas towns.
How Vernon ranks
Percentile among Texas towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Texas towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vernon is worth $87,000, below the typical Texas town ($184,100). Homes cost about 1.7 times the median household income of $51,114, which is more affordable than 88% of Texas towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 62.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernon | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $87,000 | $184,100 |
| Median rent | $945 | $1,086 |
| Median household income | $51,114 | $65,842 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.7× | 2.9× |
| Homeownership | 62.9% | 72.9% |
| Median year built | 1963 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Vernon
| People | Vernon | Typical Texas town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 15.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.1% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.6% | 13.1% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.7% | — |
| Work from home | 1.3% | 7.8% |
| Average commute | 12.6 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.7% | 89.2% |
Weather in Vernon
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 28.7°F. About 28.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.2 inches of snow (typical Texas town: 0.2 in). Expect about 102 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 71 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950, compared with 21 for the typical Texas town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 10, 1979 about 9.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 11 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 4, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 114 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on May 19, 1959.
Severe weather in Wilbarger County since 1996
Wilbarger County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458: Covid-19 |
| February 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4255: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Wilbarger County
Wilbarger County had 6,020 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,165 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 11.8%.
Public schools in Vernon
7 public schools with 1,990 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| VERNON EL | 2-5 | 535 | 14.9 |
| VERNON H S | 9-12 | 481 | 14.1 |
| VERNON MIDDLE | 6-8 | 383 | 12.8 |
| T G MCCORD EL | PK-1 | 318 | 12.2 |
| NORTHSIDE SCHOOL | K-12 | 234 | 13.8 |
| NORTH TEXAS STATE HOSPITAL - AFP - VERNON | 8-12 | 25 | 6.3 |
| VERNON ISD OPPORTUNITY CENTER | 9-12 | 14 | 14.0 |
Towns near Vernon
- Frederick, OK22.7 mi · 3,468 people · home $89,300
Vernon questions
Is Vernon, Texas a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernon scores better for retirees than 58% of Texas towns and quieter than 29%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernon is valued at $87,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,114, so homes cost about 1.7 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernon?
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 28.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 28.4 inches of precipitation a year and 1.2 inches of snow.
Does Vernon get tornadoes?
37 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 10, 1979. The typical Texas town has had 21.
- 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)