City profile · Alabama · Census ACS 2023

Vernon, AL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Vernon - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,819
Residents
$27,174
Median income
$112,500
Median home
$776
Median rent (state)

Vernon - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Vernon lands in the 2nd percentile for household income and the 27th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

2nd
percentile, household income
14th
percentile, home value
0th
percentile, median rent
27th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Vernon, AL

Vernon is a small town in Alabama, home to 1,819 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $27,174 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 29.6%. Vernon's housing stock carries a median value of $112,500, and the median resident age is 44.2 years. Educational attainment runs 11.7% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 39.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits), down 100% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 2246.6 in FBI UCR data, near the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Vernon's yearly average temperature at 63.5°F with 58.5 inches of precipitation per year and 0.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Alabama run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Alabama scores 88.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $776 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Alabama run around $245, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 31.4 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

1,819 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Alabama

Median Household Income

$27,174 /yr

Poverty 29.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Alabama average

How does Vernon compare to other US cities?

Here's how Vernon stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 14% pricier than other cities
Median rent 0% pricier than other cities
Safety 27% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

Zoom in to just Alabama and the picture shifts: Vernon ranks #132 of 222 Alabama cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Vernon against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Alabama only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Alabama-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Vernon near the bottom of Alabama's cities

Among the 556 Alabama cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Vernon ranks #416 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Vernon only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#511 of 530
4th percentile in Alabama
Median Gross Rent
#416 of 556
0th percentile in Alabama
Median Home Value
#348 of 517
33rd percentile in Alabama
Poverty Rate
#43 of 556
92nd percentile in Alabama
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#370 of 556
33rd percentile in Alabama

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Alabama only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

2ndIncome percentile
27thSafety percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income · 27th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Vernon's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Vernon's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 41 Avg. percentile National median
Vernon's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Vernon's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$112,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Vernon $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Vernon, AL Vernon, AL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vernon, AL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Vernon, AL median $27,174/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Vernon, AL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Vernon, AL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 29.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 39.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,819
Median Income
$27,174
Median Home Value
$112,500
Median Age
44.2
Poverty Rate
29.6%
Labor force participation
39.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.7%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2246.6
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
109.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2137.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Climate

Avg Temperature
63.5°F
Annual Precipitation
58.5"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,800 residents1,850 residents1,900 residents1,950 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,918 residents 1,823 residents ▼ -5.0%
Vernon's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Permit volume decreased 100% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
86.2%
Carpool
10.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.8%

Based on 529 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Alabama - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$138
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$245
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Alabama state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Alabama state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Vernon sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$776/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
31.4 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Alabama

Vance
1,822 people
Sardis City
1,805 people
Collinsville
1,835 people
Midland City
1,803 people
Malvern
1,836 people
Florala
1,841 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vernon's 1,819 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Graton, CA
1,819 people
Bridgeport, IL
1,819 people
Roanoke, IN
1,819 people
Chepachet, RI
1,819 people
Davenport, WA
1,819 people
Leachville, AR
1,818 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vernon's $27,174 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sasser, GA
$27,169 median income
Ferriday, LA
$27,167 median income
Evening Shade, AR
$27,159 median income
Patrick, SC
$27,153 median income
Culebra zona urbana, PR
$27,147 median income
Marion, LA
$27,143 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vernon, AL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Vernon, AL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.7% 19.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.7% White 77.7% Black or African American 19.3% Asian 0.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.6% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Vernon compares to nearby Alabama cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Vernon (this city) 1,819 $27,174
Vance 1,822 $76,654
Sardis City 1,805 $59,632
Collinsville 1,835 $31,411
Census ACS 5-year FIPS AL FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vernon, AL?

What is the population of Vernon, AL? +

The population of Vernon, AL stands at 1,819 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Vernon, AL? +

The median household income in Vernon is $27,174 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vernon? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Vernon; the closest available measure is the Alabama state average, a cost of living index of 88.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Alabama vary by metro area.

Is Vernon, AL safe? +

Vernon has a total crime rate of 2246.6 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Vernon, AL? +

Vernon's median home value sits at $112,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Vernon? +

Climate normals put Vernon's yearly average temperature at 63.5°F, 58.5 inches of precipitation, and 0.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.