Township · Illinois
Mount Vernon Township, Illinois
Mount Vernon Township, township, in Jefferson County, Illinois. Mount Vernon Township had 12,192 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 12,576 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 12,335 (±26). GEOID 1708151193.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
12,192
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 12,576 · ACS 2020-2024: 12,335 ±26
Median household income
$56,971
±$4,304 (90% margin)
Illinois: $83,390
Median home value
$102,500
±$16,588 (90% margin)
Illinois: $263,300
Median gross rent
$878
±$56 (90% margin)
Illinois: $1,274
Where is Mount Vernon Township and what county is it in?
Mount Vernon Township is a township in Jefferson County, Illinois. It covers 37.0 square miles of land, 340 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Mount Vernon Township: Mount Vernon (city, 14,600 in 2020).
Mount Vernon Township is in the Mount Vernon, IL micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Mount Vernon Township, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 12,192 people lived in Mount Vernon Township on July 1, 2025, down 2.9% since 2020, a steeper fall than Illinois's (−0.8%). The 2020 Census counted 12,576 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 12,335 (±26).
| Measure | Mount Vernon Township | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 12,335±26 | 36,550 | −679 |
| Households | 5,011±190 | 14,820 | −411 |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.09 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,872±261 | 16,629 | −512 |
Mount Vernon Township's population since 2000
From 14,443 in 2000 to 12,192 in 2025: down 15.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Mount Vernon Township as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Mount Vernon Township?
The median resident of Mount Vernon Township is 39.5 years old; 23.3% are under 18 and 18.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 78.3%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 10.1%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Mount Vernon Township | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.5±2.0 | 41.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 23.3%±1.4 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.2%±1.9 pts | 20.0% | – |
| Male | 51.3%±1.7 pts | 51.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.0%±1.1 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 78.3%±2.1 pts | 83.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 10.1%±1.9 pts | 5.8% | −2.7 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.4 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.9 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.7%±1.5 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2%±1.0 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.4%±1.1 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.2%±1.5 pts | 7.7% | – |
| With a disability | 16.6%±2.3 pts | 18.3% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.9%±1.4 pts | 7.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.7%±1.3 pts | 92.3% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 16.9%±2.4 pts | 18.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 6.5%±1.6 pts | 6.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.0%±2.6 pts | 89.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.2%±0.6 pts | 1.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Mount Vernon Township earn?
Half of Mount Vernon Township's 5,011 households earn less than $56,971 a year (±$4,304), against $63,118 in Jefferson County and $83,390 in Illinois. In 2015-2019 it was $54,468 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Mount Vernon Township | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $56,971±$4,304 | $63,118 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,548±$6,990 | $80,324 | – |
| Per capita income | $30,873±$2,837 | $33,038 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.6%±2.9 pts | 13.5% | −5.8 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 19.8%±6.1 pts | 18.8% | −23.9 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 23.9%±3.6 pts | 17.1% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.3%±2.1 pts | 92.6% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.7%±3.3 pts | 85.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Mount Vernon Township?
Owners occupy 63.7% of Mount Vernon Township's occupied homes and renters 36.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $102,500 by its owner (±$16,588). The median renter pays $878 a month including utilities, and 29.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Mount Vernon Township | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $102,500±$16,588 | $126,000 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $878±$56 | $885 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.3%±7.7 pts | 32.1% | −15.5 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,317±$60 | $1,278 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.7%±3.1 pts | 71.7% | −5.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 36.3%±3.1 pts | 28.3% | – |
| Housing units | 5,872±261 | 16,629 | −512 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±1.2 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.3%±5.0 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 77.0%±3.7 pts | 69.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.8%±2.4 pts | 17.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.2%±1.0 pts | 5.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.2%±3.7 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.9%±2.2 pts | 6.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Mount Vernon Township work and get to work?
79.8% of Mount Vernon Township's workers drive alone and 3.0% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.6%.
| Measure | Mount Vernon Township | Jefferson County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.1%±3.2 pts | 59.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.6%±2.0 pts | 5.8% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 79.8%±4.2 pts | 82.3% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.3%±3.8 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.5%±0.4 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.0%±1.3 pts | 5.4% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.2 min±1.1 | 19.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Mount Vernon Township?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Mount Vernon Township, and 4 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $35,294 (Tract 510) to $74,434 (Tract 508).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 508Jefferson County | 4,444 | $74,434 |
| Tract 507Jefferson County | 3,431 | $66,536 |
| Tract 509Jefferson County | 2,454 | $43,850 |
| Tract 510Jefferson County | 1,183 | $35,294 |
| Tract 511Jefferson County | 2,243 | $61,583 |
| Tract 506Jefferson County | 2,957 | $70,066 |
| Tract 501Jefferson County | 4,088 | $70,380 |
| Tract 502Jefferson County | 3,161 | $59,028 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Mount Vernon Township) · Census block assignment files
How does Mount Vernon Township compare with other places in Illinois?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Mount Vernon Township is the 1,021st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 132nd-most populous of 1,407 in Illinois.
Mount Vernon Township ranks 1,165th of 1,380 places in Illinois with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 132nd | 1,407 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 950th | 1,347 |
| Residents per square mile | 834th | 1,383 |
| Median household income | 1,165th | 1,380 |
| Per capita income | 1,136th | 1,383 |
| Median home value | 1,161st | 1,379 |
| Median gross rent | 786th | 1,280 |
| Poverty rate | 250th | 1,119 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,062nd | 1,369 |
| Median age | 876th | 1,383 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,216th | 1,382 |
| Work from home | 1,009th | 1,015 |
| Travel time to work | 1,321st | 1,382 |
Mount Vernon Township's figures with every place in Illinois (CSV)
Every place in Illinois, sortable · Compare Mount Vernon Township with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Mount Vernon Township?
8 of the 57 figures for Mount Vernon Township on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Mount Vernon Township are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.