The Town FilesVernon, Minnesota
Township in Dodge County · population 665 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $370,800
- Household income
- $101,111
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 50 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 43.4
Vernon is a township of 665 people in Dodge County, Minnesota. The median home is worth $370,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). It ranks more of a college town than 88% of Minnesota towns, easier by car than 80% of Minnesota towns, better for families than 78% of Minnesota towns.
How Vernon ranks
Percentile among Minnesota towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Minnesota towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Vernon is worth $370,800, above the typical Minnesota town ($301,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $101,111, which is more affordable than 34% of Minnesota towns. Median rent is $884 a month. 87.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Vernon | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $370,800 | $301,800 |
| Median rent | $884 | $991 |
| Median household income | $101,111 | $87,375 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.4× |
| Homeownership | 87.7% | 88.6% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Vernon
| People | Vernon | Typical Minnesota town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.4 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.5% | 26.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 6.9% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.0% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 11.1% |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 24.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 90.2% |
Weather in Vernon
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 7.0°F. About 34.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.4 inches of snow (typical Minnesota town: 47.0 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 156 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950, compared with 14 for the typical Minnesota town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 13, 2010 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Dodge County since 1996
Dodge County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453: Covid-19 |
| June 12, 2019 | Flood | DR-4442: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| July 21, 2014 | Flood | DR-4182: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| October 13, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1941: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Dodge County
Dodge County had 5,967 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,269 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Vernon
- Hayfield, MN5.4 mi · 1,364 people · home $186,600
- Canisteo, MN5.6 mi · 602 people · home $424,300
- Rock Dell, MN6.0 mi · 681 people · home $501,300
- Salem, MN8.5 mi · 1,094 people · home $417,100
- Kasson, MN9.8 mi · 6,851 people · home $285,200
- High Forest, MN10.9 mi · 966 people · home $396,000
- Dodge Center, MN11.0 mi · 2,844 people · home $197,600
- Byron, MN11.2 mi · 6,312 people · home $345,300
Vernon questions
Is Vernon, Minnesota a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Vernon scores better for retirees than 69% of Minnesota towns and quieter than 35%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 43.4).
How much does a house cost in Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Vernon is valued at $370,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,111, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $884 a month.
What is the weather like in Vernon?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 7.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.7 inches of precipitation a year and 50.4 inches of snow.
Does Vernon get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 13, 2010. The typical Minnesota town has had 14.
- 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)