The Town FilesVernon Hills, Illinois
Village in Lake County · population 26,850 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $412,300
- Household income
- $121,943
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 43 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 41.8
Vernon Hills is a village of 26,850 people in Lake County, Illinois. The median home is worth $412,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Illinois towns, more upscale than 96% of Illinois towns, more vibrant than 92% of Illinois towns.
How Vernon Hills ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vernon Hills is worth $412,300, above the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $121,943, which is more affordable than 13% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $1,903 a month. 67.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernon Hills | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $412,300 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $1,903 | $960 |
| Median household income | $121,943 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 67.5% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1991 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Vernon Hills
| People | Vernon Hills | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.8% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 67.8% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.1% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 33.6% | — |
| Work from home | 29.3% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 26.9 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 90.4% |
Weather in Vernon Hills
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 38.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 43.1 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 140 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon Hills since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 28, 1972 about 5.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 162 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 89 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 18, 1967.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| May 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4116: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 329,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $91,042 a year. Unemployment was 5% in 2023; in Vernon Hills itself the ACS puts it at 3.2%.
Public schools in Vernon Hills
15 public schools with 4,847 students, about 10.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon Hills High School | 9-12 | 1,480 | 12.5 |
| Hawthorn Middle School South | 6-8 | 642 | 11.5 |
| Hawthorn Middle School North | 6-8 | 593 | 11.6 |
| Hawthorn Elem School South | 1-5 | 517 | 11.5 |
| Hawthorn Sch of Dual Language | K-5 | 403 | 11.2 |
| Hawthorn Elem School North | 1-5 | 373 | 9.8 |
| Hawthorn Aspen Elem School | 1-5 | 318 | 9.6 |
| Hawthorn Townline Elem Sch | 1-5 | 304 | 8.9 |
| Hawthorn Sch for Young Learners | K-K | 217 | 9.4 |
| Lake Co Hulse Detention Center 6- | 6-8 | — | — |
| ROE Alternative Prog of Lake Co | 6-12 | — | — |
| Lake Co Hulse Detention Center 9- | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Vernon Hills
- Lincolnshire, IL3.4 mi · 7,940 people · home $677,700
- Libertyville, IL3.5 mi · 20,579 people · home $512,000
- Long Grove, IL3.7 mi · 8,366 people · home $804,600
- Mundelein, IL3.9 mi · 31,560 people · home $309,700
- Buffalo Grove, IL4.7 mi · 43,212 people · home $412,300
- Green Oaks, IL5.2 mi · 4,128 people · home $673,100
- Lake Forest, IL5.3 mi · 19,367 people · home $938,300
- Riverwoods, IL5.4 mi · 3,790 people · home $800,700
Vernon Hills questions
Is Vernon Hills, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernon Hills scores better for retirees than 53% of Illinois towns and quieter than 12%. 17.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Vernon Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernon Hills is valued at $412,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $121,943, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,903 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernon Hills?
July highs average 82.1°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.5 inches of precipitation a year and 43.1 inches of snow.
Does Vernon Hills get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 28, 1972. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- 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)