What it's like to live in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is a smaller city in New York with air quality that stays clean most of the year, schools with smaller class sizes than the national average, and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Mount Vernon deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Clean air
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
How Mount Vernon compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Mount Vernon
Based on Mount Vernon's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,258
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $65,160 a year
- 50% of Mount Vernon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$96,800
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,400
- Homes cost 6.1× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 15% above US
$1,629/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,629 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $484,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $484,000 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.2%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 51% above US
496 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1402/100k · Mount Vernon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 35% above US
35 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 35 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 26% take public transit; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 84°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
36% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 36% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
18 public schools inside the boundary
There are 18 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site (1 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Mount Vernon's strongest points are air quality that stays clean most of the year and public transit that many commuters actually use; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,629/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Mount Vernon
All New York guides →Moving to New Rochelle →
3 mi away · pop. 82,769
Rent $1,917/mo · Income $109,167
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Yonkers →
3 mi away · pop. 209,978
Rent $1,784/mo · Income $83,549
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Eastchester →
3 mi away · pop. 20,491
Rent $2,210/mo · Income $157,202
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Mamaroneck →
6 mi away · pop. 19,826
Rent $2,157/mo · Income $120,000
Compare with Mount Vernon →Not sure Mount Vernon is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.