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City · 14,090 residents · Jefferson County, Illinois

Mount Vernon , Illinois

In Mount Vernon, a typical home is worth $99,800 and typical rent is $910 a month. Compared with all of Jefferson County, the typical home value is 21% lower, typical household income is 12% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 19 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $99,800

    21% below the county

    62% below Illinois

    • Mount Vernon
    • Jefferson
    • Illinois

  • Typical rent

    $910a month

    3% above the county

    29% below Illinois

    • Mount Vernon
    • Jefferson
    • Illinois

  • Typical household income

    $55,357a year

    12% below the county

    34% below Illinois

    • Mount Vernon
    • Jefferson
    • Illinois

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    19 points below the county

    14 points below Illinois

    • Mount Vernon
    • Jefferson
    • Illinois

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$138,087
7.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$992 a month

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Mount Vernon is in Jefferson County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jefferson County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Mount Vernon apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Pinckneyville, the typical rent is $416: 54% less than in Mount Vernon ($910).

  2. 53% of households in Mount Vernon own their home, against 72% in Jefferson County.

  3. Nearby, in Du Quoin, the typical home value is $83,100: 17% less than in Mount Vernon ($99,800).

  4. The typical home in Mount Vernon is worth $99,800, 21% less than in Jefferson County as a whole ($126,000).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Mount Vernon

What homes there are in Mount Vernon, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Mount Vernon, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Jefferson County.

Year built

Homes in Mount Vernon are older: the typical year built is 1968; in Jefferson County, 1977.

There are fewer big homes in Mount Vernon than in Jefferson County: 51% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 62%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 99% of owner-occupied homes in Mount Vernon sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 60% of rented homes in Mount Vernon cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Jefferson County ($994); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,150 a month

Jefferson County: $1,278 a month

Without a mortgage

$615 a month

Jefferson County: $578 a month

Owners with a mortgage

51%

Jefferson County: 48%

Owning costs less in Mount Vernon: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,150 a month; in Jefferson County, $1,278. Without one, $615.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Mount Vernon rose 27% since 2015–2019, less than in Jefferson County (30%).

The typical rent in Mount Vernon rose 28% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Jefferson County (26%).

Here income gained ground: typical income rose 36%, against +27% for home values and +28% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMount VernonJefferson CountyIllinoisUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate6.0%5.0%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1.0%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.2%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.222.372.462.53
Drive alone 80%82%66%69%
Carpool 13%10%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate6%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 4%5%16%15%
Other means 2%1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Mount Vernon are smaller: 2.22 people on average; in Jefferson County, 2.37.

To get to work, 80% of workers in Mount Vernon drive alone; in Jefferson County, 82%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Mount Vernon?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Mount Vernon, worth $99,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 20% of the typical household income in Mount Vernon, which is $55,357 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jefferson County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Mount Vernon. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $3,493 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$939

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$97,992
Total interest
$140,988
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $1,685 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,292 a month

    Your payment · 20%

  • Tight

    $1,292 to $1,661 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,661 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Mount Vernon ($55,357 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$939
Principal & interest$664
Property tax$190
Home insurance$42
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$44

You need at least $3,493 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Mount Vernon and Jefferson County

Mount Vernon is in Jefferson County, Illinois. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Mount Vernon's own numbers

Typical home value
$99,800
Typical monthly rent
$910
Typical yearly household income
$55,357
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
2.28%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jefferson County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$994
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+46%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.1%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jefferson County.

Everything about Jefferson County

Buying

Buying a home in Mount Vernon

A typical home in Mount Vernon is worth $99,800: 21% below the county and 62% below Illinois. With the typical household income in Mount Vernon ($55,357 a year), a typical home costs 1.8 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Mount Vernon 1.8 years
  • Jefferson 2.0 years
  • Illinois 3.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jefferson County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jefferson County rose 59% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jefferson County.

Period County Illinois U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.6% +5.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +46% +47% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +59% +65% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Mount Vernon next to Jefferson County, Illinois and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Mount Vernon $99,800
  • Jefferson $126,000
  • Illinois $263,300
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Mount Vernon $910
  • Jefferson $885
  • Illinois $1,274
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Mount Vernon $55,357
  • Jefferson $63,118
  • Illinois $83,390
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Mount Vernon next to Jefferson County and Illinois
Measure Mount Vernon Jefferson County Illinois U.S.
Typical home value $99,800 $126,000 $263,300 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $910 $885 $1,274 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $55,357 $63,118 $83,390 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 72% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,271 $2,148 $5,298 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 2.28% 1.7% 2.01% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 46% 43% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jefferson County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Mount Vernon

For a typical $99,800 home in Mount Vernon, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Mount Vernon's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $939a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $3,493
    Cash to close
    $6,487
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $44

  • Conventional, 5% down $921a month

    Down payment
    $4,990
    Cash to close
    $7,984
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $47

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $772a month

    Down payment
    $19,960
    Cash to close
    $22,954
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $864a month

    Down payment
    $14,970
    Cash to close
    $17,964
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Mount Vernon and for Jefferson County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Mount Vernon

2.28%of the home’s value each year

$2,271 a year for the typical owner in Mount Vernon.

  • Mount Vernon 2.28%
  • Jefferson 1.7%
  • Illinois 2.01%

What Illinois publishes General Homestead Exemption (Illinois Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Illinois

Flood risk in Jefferson County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jefferson County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.1%
126
Of those, with NFIP insurance
13%
County Illinois U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.1% 1.5% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 13% 25% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Mount Vernon

Typical rent in Mount Vernon is $910 a month: 3% above the county. In Mount Vernon, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jefferson County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($994 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.12 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jefferson County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $761 $14.63 $30,440
1 bedroom $766 $14.73 $30,640
2 bedrooms $994 $19.12 $39,760
3 bedrooms $1,186 $22.81 $47,440
4 bedrooms $1,320 $25.38 $52,800

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Mount Vernon

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Mount Vernon is in ZIP code 62864.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $26 more than the fair market rent for Jefferson County ($994).

  • 62864 $1,020$1,220

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Mount Vernon when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Mount Vernon

HUD lists 7 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Mount Vernon. These are the largest.

  • Rose Lane 4222 Rose Ln, Mount Vernon 62864 180 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of Jefferson County · Average payment: $370 a month · Average wait: 5 months (618) 244-5910
  • Southtown 59-1 504 Short St, Mount Vernon 62864 134 homes, 130 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Jefferson County · Average payment: $367 a month · Average wait: 12 months (618) 244-5910
  • MT. Vernon Elderly 4204 Rose Ln, Mount Vernon 62864 112 low-income homes · For older adults (618) 244-6275
  • Willow Springs Apartments 4000 Willow Spgs, Mount Vernon 62864 100 low-income homes · For families (618) 242-4907
  • College Oakes Park 1023 Lamar Ave, Mount Vernon 62864 50 low-income homes · 3 bd: 30 · 4 bd: 20 · In service since 2001 · For people with disabilities, families

See all 9 buildings in Jefferson County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Mount Vernon

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jefferson County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A grandmother smiles, seated at home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Mount Vernon

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Mount Vernon or Jefferson County. The ones below are statewide in Illinois: they work in Mount Vernon the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Illinois

  • IHDAccess Home

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with deferred payments for first-time buyers in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Forgivable

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan forgiven little by little over ten years, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • IHDAccess Deferred

    Statewide in Illinois

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    IHDA second loan with no payments until you sell or refinance, for the down payment in Illinois. Offered by Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Mount Vernon

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Mount Vernon, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • C.e.f.s. Clay County Outreach Office

    835 West North, Flora · 33 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (618) 662-4024

  • C.e.f.s. Fayette County Outreach Office

    517 W. Gallatin Street, Vandalia · 46 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (618) 283-2631

  • Erba Richland County Outreach Office

    306 E Main, Olney · 54 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 6 more
    217-331-7031-229

All counseling agencies in Illinois

Help in Spanish near Mount Vernon

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Mount Vernon

HUD’s record names them for Mount Vernon or Jefferson County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of Jefferson County Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (618) 244-5910

One other authority has an office in Jefferson County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Mount Vernon, with the typical home value.

Everything about Jefferson County Housing in Illinois

Neighboring counties

If Jefferson County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Mount Vernon.

All guides
A family roasts marshmallows over a campfire at a forest campsite.

Questions

Housing questions about Mount Vernon

Short answers with the numbers for Mount Vernon and all of Jefferson County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Mount Vernon?

The typical home value in Mount Vernon is $99,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jefferson County it is $126,000.

How much does it cost to rent in Mount Vernon?

Typical rent in Mount Vernon is $910 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jefferson County is $994.

What is the FHA loan limit in Mount Vernon?

Mount Vernon uses the FHA limit for all of Jefferson County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Mount Vernon?

The typical homeowner in Mount Vernon pays $2,271 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 2.28% of the home’s value; in Jefferson County, the rate is 1.7%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Mount Vernon?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jefferson County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).