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City · 7,481 residents · Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Vernon , Wisconsin

In Vernon, a typical home is worth $434,700 and typical rent is $1,125 a month. Compared with all of Waukesha County, typical rent is 17% lower, typical household income is 13% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 20 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $434,700

    9% above the county

    63% above Wisconsin

    • Vernon
    • Waukesha
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical rent

    $1,125a month

    17% below the county

    3% above Wisconsin

    • Vernon
    • Waukesha
    • Wisconsin

  • Typical household income

    $120,000a year

    13% above the county

    55% above Wisconsin

    • Vernon
    • Waukesha
    • Wisconsin

  • Households that own their home

    96%

    20 points above the county

    28 points above Wisconsin

    • Vernon
    • Waukesha
    • Wisconsin

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$546,455
7.5% more than 12 months ago

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

Vernon is in Waukesha 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 Waukesha County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 9 official sources

Only here

What sets Vernon apart

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

  1. Vernon has the 2nd highest homeownership rate of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people (96%).

  2. Nearby, in Waukesha, the typical home value is $315,500: 27% less than in Vernon ($434,700).

  3. The typical rent in Vernon is $1,125 a month, 17% less than in Waukesha County as a whole ($1,356).

  4. Vernon has the 16th highest typical household income of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($120,000).

  5. Vernon has the 16th highest typical home value of the 156 cities in Wisconsin with more than 5,000 people ($434,700).

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

The homes here

Housing in Vernon

What homes there are in 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

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 97% of homes here, against 69% in Waukesha County.

Year built

In Vernon, half of the homes were built before 1978; in Waukesha County, before 1981.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,210 a month

Waukesha County: $2,144 a month

Without a mortgage

$681 a month

Waukesha County: $781 a month

Owners with a mortgage

62%

Waukesha County: 65%

Owning costs about the same in Vernon as in Waukesha County: with a mortgage, $2,210 a month; without one, $681.

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 Census does not compare Vernon with 2015–2019 because its boundaries changed. In Waukesha County, over that time, the typical home value rose 41%.

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

MeasureVernonWaukesha CountyWisconsinUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.0%4.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.3%0.5%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate0.9%1.7%3.4%
People per household 2.502.422.332.53
Drive alone 80%76%74%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate5%7%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%1%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%3%3%
Work from home 15%17%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Vernon has 2.50 people on average, about the same as in Waukesha County (2.42).

To get to work, 80% of workers in Vernon drive alone; in Waukesha County, 76%.

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 Vernon?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Vernon, worth $434,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Vernon, which is $120,000 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $153,895 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in 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 $15,215 (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

$3,591

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$426,826
Total interest
$614,102
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,341 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,800 a month

  • Tight

    $2,800 to $3,600 a month

    Your payment · 36%

  • Hard

    more than $3,600 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Vernon ($120,000 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,591
Principal & interest$2,891
Property tax$326
Home insurance$181
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$192

You need at least $15,215 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

Vernon and Waukesha County

Vernon is in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. 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).

Vernon's own numbers

Typical home value
$434,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,125
Typical yearly household income
$120,000
Households that own their home
96%
Effective property tax rate
0.9%

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

Numbers for all of Waukesha County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,263
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+52%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.3%

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 Waukesha County.

Everything about Waukesha County

Buying

Buying a home in Vernon

A typical home in Vernon is worth $434,700: 9% above the county and 63% above Wisconsin. With the typical household income in Vernon ($120,000 a year), a typical home costs 3.6 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.

  • Vernon 3.6 years
  • Waukesha 3.8 years
  • Wisconsin 3.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Waukesha County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Waukesha County rose 85% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Wisconsin U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.4% +5.4% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +52% +57% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +85% +96% +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

Vernon next to Waukesha County, Wisconsin and the U.S.

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

Typical home value
  • Vernon $434,700
  • Waukesha $398,200
  • Wisconsin $266,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Vernon $1,125
  • Waukesha $1,356
  • Wisconsin $1,087
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Vernon $120,000
  • Waukesha $106,076
  • Wisconsin $77,485
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Vernon next to Waukesha County and Wisconsin
Measure Vernon Waukesha County Wisconsin U.S.
Typical home value $434,700 $398,200 $266,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,125 $1,356 $1,087 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $120,000 $106,076 $77,485 $80,734
Households that own their home 96% 76% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,899 $4,554 $3,792 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.9% 1.14% 1.42% 0.94%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Waukesha 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 Vernon

For a typical $434,700 home in Vernon, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Vernon's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,591a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $15,215
    Cash to close
    $28,256
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $192

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,511a month

    Down payment
    $21,735
    Cash to close
    $34,776
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $206

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,863a month

    Down payment
    $86,940
    Cash to close
    $99,981
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,265a month

    Down payment
    $65,205
    Cash to close
    $78,246
    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 Vernon and for Waukesha County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Vernon

0.9%of the home’s value each year

$3,899 a year for the typical owner in Vernon.

  • Vernon 0.9%
  • Waukesha 1.14%
  • Wisconsin 1.42%

What Wisconsin publishes Lottery and Gaming Credit for your primary residence (Wisconsin Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Wisconsin

Flood risk in Waukesha County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.3%
319
Of those, with NFIP insurance
66%
County Wisconsin U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.3% 1.4% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 66% 19% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Vernon

Typical rent in Vernon is $1,125 a month: 17% below the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Waukesha County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,263 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.29 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Waukesha 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 $985 $18.94 $39,400
1 bedroom $1,060 $20.38 $42,400
2 bedrooms $1,263 $24.29 $50,520
3 bedrooms $1,553 $29.87 $62,120
4 bedrooms $1,664 $32.00 $66,560

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

Free help

Help to buy or rent in 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.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Waukesha County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Vernon

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

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Wisconsin

  • WHEDA Easy Close Advantage DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Wisconsin state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to 6% of the price, over 10 years with a monthly payment and the same rate as the WHEDA first mortgage. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Repayable

    See the program Official page

  • WHEDA Capital Access DPA

    Statewide in Wisconsin

    Limited funds remain, per the source

    $7,500 loan from the Wisconsin state agency for the down payment and closing costs, over 30 years, at 0% and with no monthly payments, alongside a WHEDA mortgage; limited funds, first come, first served. Offered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Vernon

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

  • Housing Resources Inc - Waukesha

    217 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 411, Waukesha · 9 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (262) 522-1230

  • La Casa de Esperanza, Inc.

    134 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha · 9 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (262) 547-0887

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Milwaukee, WI

    11707 W North Ave, Wauwatosa · 16 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (414) 442-6222

Every agency in Waukesha County All counseling agencies in Wisconsin

Help in Spanish near Vernon

2 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 Vernon

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Waukesha County is named for Vernon or Waukesha County.

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

Cities

Other cities in Waukesha County

These cities are also in Waukesha County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Waukesha County Housing in Wisconsin
See 2 more cities in Waukesha County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Waukesha 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 Vernon.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Vernon

Short answers with the numbers for Vernon and all of Waukesha 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 Vernon?

The typical home value in Vernon is $434,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Waukesha County it is $398,200.

How much does it cost to rent in Vernon?

Typical rent in Vernon is $1,125 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Waukesha County is $1,263.

What is the FHA loan limit in Vernon?

Vernon uses the FHA limit for all of Waukesha 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 Vernon?

The typical homeowner in Vernon pays $3,899 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.9% of the home’s value; in Waukesha County, the rate is 1.14%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Waukesha County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. 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); 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).