What it's like to live in Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is a small city in Washington with crime rates well below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Mount Vernon deals with home prices well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city, and a car-dependent commute, with few people using transit.
The good
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- High rent burden for renters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
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
$2,810
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $56,200 a year
- 51% of Mount Vernon renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$94,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $47,230
- Homes cost 6.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,405/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,405 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices are steep, with a median around $472,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $472,300 · 51% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.7% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.7%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 60% below US
130 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1494/100k · Mount Vernon Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 12% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 14% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 73°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. 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 & workforce▼ 23% below US
28% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 28%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
16 public schools inside the boundary
There are 16 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve (22 miles away). There are 6 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Mount Vernon's strongest points are crime rates well below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,405/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Mount Vernon
All Washington guides →Moving to Sedro-Woolley →
7 mi away · pop. 12,831
Rent $1,525/mo · Income $80,885
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Anacortes →
15 mi away · pop. 17,966
Rent $1,702/mo · Income $91,951
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Oak Harbor →
17 mi away · pop. 24,362
Rent $1,645/mo · Income $76,084
Compare with Mount Vernon →Moving to Arlington →
19 mi away · pop. 21,095
Rent $1,905/mo · Income $88,231
Compare with Mount Vernon →Not sure Mount Vernon is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.