The Town FilesMount Vernon, Virginia
Community in Fairfax County · population 12,914 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $836,200
- Household income
- $163,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 27° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 13 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 44.2
Mount Vernon is a community of 12,914 people in Fairfax County, Virginia. The median home is worth $836,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks more upscale than 86% of Virginia towns, better transit than 84% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 78% of Virginia towns.
How Mount Vernon ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Mount Vernon is worth $836,200, above the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $163,750, which is more affordable than 14% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,620 a month. 73.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mount Vernon | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $836,200 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,620 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $163,750 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 73.5% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1968 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mount Vernon
| People | Mount Vernon | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.2 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 63.6% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.6% | — |
| Work from home | 29.4% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.7% | 91.8% |
Weather in Mount Vernon
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F. About 46.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 13.4 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 80 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 24, 2001 about 4.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 11, 2004.
Severe weather in Fairfax County since 1996
Fairfax County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Fairfax County
Fairfax County had 636,430 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $114,100 a year. Unemployment was 2.5% in 2023; in Mount Vernon itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Towns near Mount Vernon
- Woodlawn, VA1.5 mi · 20,859 people · home $367,200
- Fort Belvoir, VA2.1 mi · 7,637 people · home —
- Groveton, VA2.5 mi · 15,725 people · home $585,000
- Hybla Valley, VA2.7 mi · 16,319 people · home $503,000
- Fort Hunt, VA3.0 mi · 17,231 people · home $927,400
- Hayfield, VA3.1 mi · 4,154 people · home $677,500
- Kingstowne, VA4.0 mi · 16,825 people · home $626,700
- Franconia, VA4.7 mi · 18,943 people · home $567,100
Mount Vernon questions
Is Mount Vernon, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mount Vernon scores better for retirees than 67% of Virginia towns and quieter than 36%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.2).
How much does a house cost in Mount Vernon?
The median owner-occupied home in Mount Vernon is valued at $836,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $163,750, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,620 a month.
What is the weather like in Mount Vernon?
July highs average 88.0°F and January lows 27.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.8 inches of precipitation a year and 13.4 inches of snow.
Does Mount Vernon get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mount Vernon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 24, 2001. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)