City profile · Illinois · Census ACS 2023

Vernon Hills, IL

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

26,772
Residents
$120,625
Median income
$384,800
Median home
$1,781
Median rent (state)

Vernon Hills - the verdict

Vernon Hills ranks in the 87th percentile for household income and the 45th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

87th
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
72nd
percentile, median rent
45th
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 Hills, IL

Illinois's Vernon Hills is a small city, with 26,772 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Vernon Hills brings in $120,625 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 3.6%. Typical homes in Vernon Hills are valued around $384,800, and the median resident age is 41.3 years. Educational attainment runs 66.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 65.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 8 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 74% from five years earlier. Vernon Hills reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 1524.7 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Illinois tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Illinois at 100.0 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,781 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Illinois's average monthly utility costs around $240 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 96.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

26,772 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Illinois

Median Household Income

$120,625 /yr

Poverty 3.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

100.0 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Illinois average

How does Vernon Hills compare to other US cities?

Vernon Hills measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 87% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 72% pricier than other cities
Safety 45% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just Illinois and the picture shifts: Vernon Hills ranks #312 of 455 Illinois cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Illinois-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Vernon Hills's strongest outlier among Illinois cities

Among the 1,336 Illinois cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Vernon Hills ranks #47 - the 96th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Vernon Hills only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#108 of 1,311
92nd percentile in Illinois
Median Gross Rent
#17 of 1,336
77th percentile in Illinois
Median Home Value
#71 of 1,315
95th percentile in Illinois
Poverty Rate
#963 of 1,335
27th percentile in Illinois
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#47 of 1,336
96th percentile in Illinois

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 Illinois only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

87thIncome percentile
45thSafety percentile

87th percentile nationally for median household income · 45th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Vernon Hills's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Vernon Hills'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 53 Avg. percentile National median
Vernon Hills'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 Hills's home value compares nationally

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

$384,800 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Hills $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 Hills, IL Vernon Hills, IL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Vernon Hills, IL-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 Hills, IL median $120,625/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 Hills, IL'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 Hills, IL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 66.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 65.6%

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

Population
26,772
Median Income
$120,625
Median Home Value
$384,800
Median Age
41.3
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Labor force participation
65.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
66.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1524.7
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
60.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1464.6
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.

Schools

Total Schools
9
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,780 residents26,800 residents26,820 residents26,840 residents26,860 residents26,880 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,815 residents 26,825 residents ▲ +0.0%
Vernon Hills's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
8
housing units authorized
Single-Family
8
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 31
2020 33
2021 73
2022 10
2023 7
2024 8

Permit volume decreased 74% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
63.3%
Carpool
4.8%
Public Transit
2.6%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
26.3%
Other
1.7%

Based on 13,766 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$100
avg/month
Natural Gas
$90
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$240
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Illinois 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 Illinois state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Vernon Hills sits in

Cost of Living Index
100.0
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,781/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
96.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Illinois

Batavia
26,730 people
Granite City
26,670 people
Oak Forest
26,888 people
Chicago Heights
26,938 people
Edwardsville
26,543 people
Round Lake Beach
27,081 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Vernon Hills's 26,772 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Camas, WA
26,779 people
South Portland, ME
26,780 people
Ewa Gentry, HI
26,738 people
Cabot, AR
26,733 people
Lutz, FL
26,731 people
Shoreview, MN
26,724 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Vernon Hills's $120,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Tazlina, AK
$120,625 median income
Fenwick Island, DE
$120,625 median income
Big Lake, IN
$120,625 median income
High Forest, MN
$120,625 median income
Denton, MO
$120,643 median income
View Park-Windsor Hills, CA
$120,604 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Vernon Hills, IL 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 Hills, IL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 64.2% 24.3% 6.6% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 12.4% White 64.2% Black or African American 1.7% Asian 24.3% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 6.6% 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 Hills compares to nearby Illinois 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 Hills (this city) 26,772 $120,625
Batavia 26,730 $119,167
Granite City 26,670 $60,490
Oak Forest 26,888 $87,941
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IL FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Vernon Hills, IL?

What is the population of Vernon Hills, IL? +

Vernon Hills, IL counts 26,772 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Vernon Hills, IL? +

In Vernon Hills, the typical household earns $120,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Vernon Hills? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Vernon Hills; the closest available measure is the Illinois state average, a cost of living index of 100.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Illinois vary by metro area.

Is Vernon Hills, IL safe? +

Vernon Hills has a total crime rate of 1524.7 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Hills, IL? +

A typical home in Vernon Hills is worth $384,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, 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.