Lynchburg VA 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)

Lynchburg, VA

Virginia · Population: 79,255

  • Median HH Income$59,808
  • Median Home Price$264,994
  • Unemployment5.0%
  • Bachelor's+38.5%

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
Lynchburg
79,255
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
72,528
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lynchburg
N/A
Mount Vernon
N/A
Median Age
Lynchburg
28.4
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
41.9
Foreign Born
Lynchburg
4.6%
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
White
Lynchburg
62.2%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Black
Lynchburg
27.7%
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Asian
Lynchburg
2.2%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Hispanic
Lynchburg
5.0%
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Mount Vernon +
Spanish at Home
Lynchburg
N/A
Mount Vernon
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lynchburg
$59,808
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Income
Lynchburg
$30,004
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Mount Vernon +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lynchburg
$69,581
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Unemployment Rate
Lynchburg
5.0%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Poverty Rate
Lynchburg
17.4%
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Mount Vernon +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lynchburg
38.5%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
35.0%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lynchburg
$264,994
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Homeownership Rate
Lynchburg
49.1%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
42.1%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lynchburg
240
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
434
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lynchburg
1726
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
1736

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lynchburg
37.1%
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Mount Vernon +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lynchburg
11.9%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lynchburg
19.4%
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lynchburg
9.1%
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lynchburg
14.8%
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lynchburg
12.9%
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lynchburg
54.8°F
Mount Vernon
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lynchburg
41.5 in
Mount Vernon
N/A

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lynchburg
18.5 min
Lynchburg +
Mount Vernon
38.6 min

Which City is Right for You?

Mount Vernon leads in median household income at $77,171, while lynchburg offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $264,994. On public safety, Lynchburg is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Mount Vernon. Lynchburg has a lower unemployment rate at 5.0%, and Mount Vernon has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Mount Vernon scores better with a lower obesity rate of 33.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Lynchburg & Mount Vernon