Vernon County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Vernon County is located in Missouri with a total population of 19,713. It is the 56th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Vernon County is 41.7 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 38.9 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Vernon County is $54,519. This is 21% lower than the state median of $68,920. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.0%. This is 50% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 6% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $136,700. Housing costs are 37% lower than the state median of $215,600. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.5x, Vernon County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 72.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Vernon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.1% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The Black or African American population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.5%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

18.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 43% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.2%.