The Town FilesMount Vernon, Kentucky
City in Rockcastle County · population 2,453 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $111,400
- Household income
- $38,697
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 48.2
Mount Vernon is a city of 2,453 people in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. The median home is worth $111,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Kentucky towns, better for retirees than 89% of Kentucky towns, more of a college town than 89% of Kentucky towns.
How Mount Vernon ranks
Percentile among Kentucky towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Kentucky towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Vernon is worth $111,400, below the typical Kentucky town ($161,450). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $38,697, which is more affordable than 57% of Kentucky towns. Median rent is $620 a month. 50.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Vernon | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $111,400 | $161,450 |
| Median rent | $620 | $837 |
| Median household income | $38,697 | $54,969 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 50.5% | 63.5% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1974 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.0% | — |
Who lives in Mount Vernon
| People | Mount Vernon | Typical Kentucky town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.2 | 39.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 19.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.7% | 18.0% |
| Veterans | 3.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 7.5% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 22.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 75.6% | 88.6% |
Weather in Mount Vernon
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 24.5°F. About 51.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 10.9 inches of snow (typical Kentucky town: 9.4 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950, compared with 19 for the typical Kentucky town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 3, 1974 about 9.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 10 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 4, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 1, 2002.
Severe weather in Rockcastle County since 1996
Rockcastle County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4937: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| May 29, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4913: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3633: Severe Winter Storm |
| May 23, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4875: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| April 24, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4864: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
Jobs and pay in Rockcastle County
Rockcastle County had 4,008 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $41,657 a year. Unemployment was 4.7% in 2023; in Mount Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Mount Vernon
6 public schools with 2,296 students, about 14.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockcastle County High School | 9-12 | 827 | 16.9 |
| Mt. Vernon Elementary | PK-5 | 611 | 13.9 |
| Rockcastle County Middle School | 6-8 | 581 | 15.3 |
| Roundstone Elementary School | PK-5 | 244 | 11.1 |
| Rockcastle Academy for Academic Achievement | 7-12 | 33 | 11.0 |
| Rockcastle County Area Technology Center | 8-12 | — | — |
Towns near Mount Vernon
- Brodhead, KY5.7 mi · 1,117 people · home $150,200
- Crab Orchard, KY12.0 mi · 744 people · home $98,200
- East Bernstadt, KY15.9 mi · 809 people · home $91,900
- Berea, KY16.2 mi · 15,539 people · home $199,900
- McKee, KY19.7 mi · 803 people · home $112,800
- Annville, KY20.4 mi · 1,102 people · home $86,600
- Science Hill, KY20.9 mi · 657 people · home $138,700
- Stanford, KY21.5 mi · 3,640 people · home $155,000
Mount Vernon questions
Is Mount Vernon, Kentucky a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Vernon scores better for retirees than 89% of Kentucky towns and quieter than 35%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.2).
How much does a house cost in Mount Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Vernon is valued at $111,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $38,697, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $620 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Vernon?
July highs average 84.4°F and January lows 24.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.4 inches of precipitation a year and 10.9 inches of snow.
Does Mount Vernon get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 3, 1974. The typical Kentucky town has had 19.
- 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)