Compare towns
Vernon vs Browning 114 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+75% in Browning) and conserved land (+22.3 pts in Browning).
Where each one shines Two towns, two different strengths What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.
Vernon A small town of 69
Quiet strengths Vernon doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Vernon →
Browning A small town of 99
Quiet strengths Browning doesn’t stand out on the data we have Neighbors can tell you what the numbers miss.
All about Browning →
The biggest differences Where they differ most The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.
★ What stands out · Monthly cost A typical home costs about the same each month A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.
Down payment3.5% 10% 20% Rate
Vernon $360 /mo
Typical home $57K (Census) · tax rate 1.20% · or rent about $625/mo · Housing →
Browning $470 /mo
Typical home $71K (Census) · tax rate 1.68% · Housing →
The difference: $120 a month , about $1,400 a year , between Browning and Vernon.
Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.
Life in each What daily life feels like in each The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.
Seasons
Growing season (days) 197d — Outdoors & history
Famous people born here 1 —
A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.
Where they are 114 miles apart Straight-line miles between town centers.
Vernon ↔ Browning 114 miles apart
Everything, side by side What matters to you? Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
Raising kids Affordability Owning a home Short commute Working from home Younger crowd Settled, older crowd Growing town Outdoorsy Walkable streets
Population
69 Lowest 99 Highest
Median age
46.3 ±9 Highest 19% above IL 43.8 ±34.8 Lowest 12% above IL
Kids under 18
17.4% ±34.4 Lowest IL: 21.8% 26.3% ±37.2 Highest IL: 21.8%
Age 65+
24.6% ±40.4 Highest IL: 17% 17.2% ±29.2 Lowest IL: 17%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
12.2% Highest IL: 37.8% 7.1% Lowest IL: 37.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0% ±26.6 IL: 6.3% 0% ±18.6 IL: 6.3%
Household incomemedian
$60,313 ±$28k 28% below IL —
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$57,000 ±$23k Lowest 78% below IL $71,400 ±$9k Highest 73% below IL
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$625 ±$260 51% below IL —
Property taxmedian, yearly
$683 Lowest 87% below IL $1,196 Highest 77% below IL
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
22.2% ±100 Lowest IL: 47.9% 100% ±100 Highest IL: 47.9%
Below poverty line
23.2% Highest IL: 11.8% 4% Lowest IL: 11.8%
Homeownersof occupied homes
73% Highest IL: 67.1% 72.5% Lowest IL: 67.1%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973 Highest 2 yrs newer than IL 1947 Lowest 24 yrs older than IL
Average commuteone way
27 min Highest about the IL average 27 min Lowest 5% below IL
Work from home
15.6% ±19.6 Highest IL: 15.9% 0% ±29.5 Lowest IL: 15.9%
Work in townworking residents
0% 0%
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line
20.3 mi Lowest 22.3 mi Highest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub
0.00 Lowest 0.02 Highest
Top workplaceoutside town
Salem (16%) Rushville (32%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others
Few work in Browning Few work in Vernon
Conserved landshare of the town
0% Lowest 22.3% Highest
Trailsmapped miles
0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi
0.0 mi 0.0 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map
0 0
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure
22.9 Lowest 45.4 Highest
“±” Census margin of error ACS 2020–2024
Deciding? Ask the people who live there The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.
Vernon or Browning: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Vernon? → Moving to Vernon: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Vernon’s Town Square.
Browning or Vernon: which would you pick? → What’s it really like to live in Browning? → Moving to Browning: what should I know? →
Your question goes to Browning’s Town Square.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.
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