Each edition grades its towns against each other only.
Among 594 Indiana towns, just 7 have a lower average trip to work than Vernon. Vernon’s trail density is 4.5 miles per square mile, against 0.2 in Indiana’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns. Vernon Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. Vernon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Where Vernon beats most towns.
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Census counts: 690 in 1850, 236 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1886 and 2 maps from 1959 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Who provides power, water and the rest in Vernon, and how to reach them.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
Ordered by what stands out in Vernon.
1% of residents live below the poverty line in Vernon, below both the Indiana town median (10%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Jobs based in Vernon grew to 239 in 2023, 204 more than in 2013. 4% of Vernon working residents work locally.
| Vernon | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 1% | 10% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 4% | 11% | 8% |
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Adults 35 to 64 are 50% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 12% of residents (23% statewide). The median age in Vernon is 46.3 years. 23% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 30% across Indiana.
| Vernon | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.3 years | 39.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 23% | 22% | 29% |
Somewhere between 41% and 64% women
The Census survey reached too few of Vernon’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±11.8 points. Across Indiana, 50.4% of residents are women.
| Vernon | IN | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 5.2% | 12.4% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 8.3% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.7% | 9.6% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 5.2% | 13.1% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 24.4% | 12.7% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 14% | 12% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.4% | 12.5% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.7% | 10.1% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 19.2% | 6.7% | 7% |
| No diploma | 4.5% | 9.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 51.3% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 12.3% | 19.3% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.1% | 9.1% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 13% | 18.7% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 9.7% | 10.8% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 200, single groups can be off by several points
Vernon’s FEMA risk score is 75 of 100.
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Vernon has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 23° and about 17 inches of snow falls in a winter.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Vernon beats the Indiana average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 18% of adults report frequent physical distress in Vernon. Among 590 Indiana towns, just 6 have a lower share of adults who binge drink than Vernon.
| Vernon | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 15% | 14% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 45% | 39% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 13% | 12% |
| What stands out | Vernon | IN |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 81.4% | 77.4% |
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 24.6% | 15.4% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Commons | 0.4 mi | 3 |
| 2. Vernon Gym and Ball Field | 0.1 mi | 5 |
| 3. Yard at Vernon Gym | 0.2 mi | 3 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
None within 15 miles of Vernon; the nearest are
About 0 of every 100 Vernon residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Indiana.
Where Vernon’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
Town in Indiana, United States
Vernon is a town within Vernon Township and the county seat of Jennings County, Indiana, United States. With a population of just 236 in the 2020 census, it is the smallest county seat by population in the state of Indiana, lying just south of the much larger North Vernon. It sits on a peninsula as it is nearly surrounded by the Muscatatuck River. Vernon is the only Indiana town with an elected mayor and an elected town marshal. As of 2025, Bradley Bender is the mayor and Britt Burgmeier is the marshal. The Vernon Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the site of many firsts in the state. The first area set aside for use as a public playground in Indiana, T…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Vernon has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
