Fresno CA vs Mount Vernon NY — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fresno, CA

California · Population: 543,615

  • Median HH Income$66,804
  • Median Home Price$391,442
  • Unemployment8.6%
  • Bachelor's+24.9%

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

  • Median HH Income$77,171
  • Median Home Price$579,771
  • Unemployment6.9%
  • Bachelor's+35.0%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Fresno
543,615
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
72,528
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fresno
N/A
Mount Vernon
N/A
Median Age
Fresno
32.4
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
41.9
Foreign Born
Fresno
18.9%
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
White
Fresno
38.0%
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Black
Fresno
6.7%
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Asian
Fresno
14.2%
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Hispanic
Fresno
50.5%
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Spanish at Home
Fresno
N/A
Mount Vernon
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Fresno
$66,804
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Income
Fresno
$31,012
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fresno
$77,230
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Unemployment Rate
Fresno
8.6%
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Mount Vernon +
Poverty Rate
Fresno
20.9%
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Mount Vernon +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fresno
24.9%
Mount Vernon
35.0%
Mount Vernon +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fresno
$391,442
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Homeownership Rate
Fresno
49.7%
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
42.1%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
503
Mount Vernon
434
Mount Vernon +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fresno
2388
Mount Vernon
1736
Mount Vernon +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
37.5%
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Mount Vernon +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fresno
12.7%
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fresno
19.1%
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fresno
15.3%
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Mount Vernon +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fresno
14.1%
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fresno
13.8%
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
64.2°F
Mount Vernon
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fresno
12.8 in
Mount Vernon
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fresno
7.9 µg/m³
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
8.1 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fresno
75.0%
Mount Vernon
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fresno
23.7 min
Fresno +
Mount Vernon
38.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Mount Vernon leads in median household income at $77,171, while fresno offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $391,442. On public safety, Mount Vernon is safer with a violent crime rate of 434 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Fresno. Mount Vernon has a lower unemployment rate at 6.9%, and Fresno has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mount Vernon scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Fresno & Mount Vernon