Mount Vernon NY vs Raleigh NC — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Mount Vernon, NY

New York · Population: 72,528

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

Raleigh, NC

North Carolina · Population: 470,763

  • Median HH Income$82,424
  • Median Home Price$435,807
  • Unemployment4.5%
  • Bachelor's+52.9%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Mount Vernon
72,528
Raleigh
470,763
Raleigh +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Mount Vernon
N/A
Raleigh
N/A
Median Age
Mount Vernon
41.9
Raleigh
34.7
Raleigh +
Foreign Born
Mount Vernon
31.9%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
13.6%
White
Mount Vernon
16.2%
Raleigh
53.8%
Raleigh +
Black
Mount Vernon
60.4%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
27.5%
Asian
Mount Vernon
2.2%
Raleigh
4.7%
Raleigh +
Hispanic
Mount Vernon
18.3%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
12.7%
Spanish at Home
Mount Vernon
N/A
Raleigh
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Mount Vernon
$77,171
Raleigh
$82,424
Raleigh +
Per Capita Income
Mount Vernon
$42,158
Raleigh
$49,948
Raleigh +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Mount Vernon
$77,425
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Mount Vernon
6.9%
Raleigh
4.5%
Raleigh +
Poverty Rate
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Raleigh
11.4%
Raleigh +
Bachelor's Degree+
Mount Vernon
35.0%
Raleigh
52.9%
Raleigh +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Mount Vernon
$579,771
Raleigh
$435,807
Raleigh +
Homeownership Rate
Mount Vernon
42.1%
Raleigh
51.2%
Raleigh +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
434
Raleigh
398
Raleigh +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Mount Vernon
1736
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
1999

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
33.2%
Raleigh
30.9%
Raleigh +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
13.6%
Raleigh
9.1%
Raleigh +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Mount Vernon
16.3%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
16.6%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
9.3%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
9.7%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Mount Vernon +
Raleigh
15.3%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Mount Vernon
12.8%
Raleigh
10.5%
Raleigh +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Raleigh
61.1°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Mount Vernon
N/A
Raleigh
46.2 in

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Mount Vernon
38.6 min
Raleigh
25.1 min
Raleigh +

Which City is Right for You?

Raleigh leads in median household income at $82,424, while raleigh offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $435,807. On public safety, Raleigh is safer with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 residents, compared to 434 in Mount Vernon. Raleigh has a lower unemployment rate at 4.5%, and Mount Vernon has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Raleigh scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Mount Vernon & Raleigh