Vernon County, Missouri Demographics 2026
Vernon County, Missouri has a population of 19,687, the 56th most populous county in Missouri. The median household income is $52,230 and the median home value is $158,800. The poverty rate is 18.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Vernon County Quick Facts
How Vernon County Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19,713 | 19,687 | -0.1% |
| Median household income | $54,519 | $52,230 | -4.2% |
| Median home value | $136,700 | $158,800 | +16.2% |
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 40 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Vernon County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 7,925 | $42,813 | 27.8% | $122,700 |
| Sheldon | 443 | $41,848 | 37.0% | $67,500 |
| Walker | 359 | $40,417 | 10.3% | N/A |
| Schell City | 224 | $46,250 | 11.2% | $57,500 |
| Bronaugh | 163 | $52,917 | 31.4% | $43,600 |
| Moundville | 98 | $56,667 | 13.3% | $72,500 |
| Richards | 49 | $45,804 | 30.6% | $65,700 |
| Milo | 47 | $35,500 | 46.8% | $60,000 |
| Deerfield | 43 | N/A | 18.6% | $113,900 |
| Metz | 7 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Harwood | 6 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
Explore Missouri Rankings
Population Overview
Vernon County is located in Missouri with a total population of 19,687. It is the 56th most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 11 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Vernon County is 41.9 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 39.0 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Vernon County is $52,230. This is 26% lower than the state median of $70,702. It is also 35% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 18.8%. This is 49% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 5% higher than the state rate of 4.0%. The median home value is $158,800. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $230,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 71.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% higher than the state average of 68.1%.
Race & Ethnicity
Vernon County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.7%. The Black or African American population (0.9%) is well below the state average of 10.9%. The Asian population (0.8%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.
Education
16.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 49% lower than the state rate of 32.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 88.9%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Vernon County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Missouri and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Vernon County, Missouri?
Vernon County has a population of 19,687, making it the 56th most populous county in Missouri.
What is the median income in Vernon County?
The median household income in Vernon County is $52,230 with a poverty rate of 18.8%.
How many cities are in Vernon County, Missouri?
Vernon County contains 11 Census-designated places.