The Town FilesVernon, Alabama
Town in Lamar County · population 1,921 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $103,800
- Household income
- $27,967
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 38.3
Vernon is a town of 1,921 people in Lamar County, Alabama. The median home is worth $103,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks easier by car than 88% of Alabama towns, better for retirees than 81% of Alabama towns.
How Vernon ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vernon is worth $103,800, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $27,967, which is more affordable than 17% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $530 a month. 46.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernon | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $103,800 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $530 | $834 |
| Median household income | $27,967 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 46.6% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Vernon
| People | Vernon | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.6% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.8% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 3.2% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 22.8 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.8% | 86.7% |
Weather in Vernon
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.4°F. About 58.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 65 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on April 3, 1974 about 5.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on March 29, 2020.
Severe weather in Lamar County since 1996
Lamar County has been included in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lamar County
Lamar County had 3,403 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,837 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 12.1%.
Public schools in Vernon
3 public schools with 868 students, about 17.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamar County HighIntermediate | 4-12 | 587 | 18.3 |
| Vernon Elementary School | PK-3 | 281 | 15.6 |
| Lamar County School Of Technology | 10-12 | — | — |
Towns near Vernon
- Sulligent, AL9.2 mi · 1,879 people · home $130,700
- Caledonia, MS13.2 mi · 1,135 people · home $203,300
- Millport, AL14.1 mi · 1,010 people · home $104,400
- Fayette, AL16.9 mi · 4,285 people · home $122,000
- New Hamilton, MS18.9 mi · 533 people · home —
- Guin, AL19.7 mi · 2,195 people · home $112,000
- Columbus AFB, MS21.1 mi · 1,604 people · home —
- Winfield, AL22.2 mi · 4,845 people · home $165,500
Vernon questions
Is Vernon, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernon scores better for retirees than 81% of Alabama towns and quieter than 63%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernon is valued at $103,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $27,967, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $530 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernon?
July highs average 91.8°F and January lows 33.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Vernon get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on April 3, 1974. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- 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)