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…

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Vernon ranks

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#78Lowest property tax in IN #90Most conserved land in IN #203Most affordable in IN All IN rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code47282

Area code812

Living in Vernon

Work & commute in Vernon

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Most working residents leave Vernon for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Seymour (24%), Crothersville (12%) and Columbus (11%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

Seymour

24%

Crothersville

12%

Columbus

11%

Scottsburg

14%Work in townlive and work in Vernon 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 1,044Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Vernon →

Health in Vernon

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 15% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Indiana

9worse than IN

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 23 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 2▼ 3 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.3%More adults with COPDIN 8.1% · worse 19.8%More smokersIN 15.7% · worse 19%More older adults who have lost all their teethIN 15.4% · worse

Care nearby

Norton Scott HospitalScottsburg · 8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Austin Medical CenterAustin · 4.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 47229, 47274, 47102 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Vernon →

Natural hazards in Vernon

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 32% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes💨 Strong wind

0Does Vernon flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 15 declared for Jackson County MapVernon vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Vernon →

Climate in Vernon

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Vernon has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 87°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

43° / 25°Winter

66° / 43°Spring

85° / 63°Summer

68° / 45°Fall

How much snow does Vernon get?About 12 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 20, with the last in spring around Apr 18.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.0° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Vernon →

Schools in Vernon

All Vernon schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Vernon’s kids attend trail 82% of Indiana’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

See how Vernon’s schools compare in IN →

DistrictCrothersville Community SchoolsSchools2

Crothersville Elementary School C-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 230 students Crothersville Jr-Sr High School C-High · Grades 6–12 · 221 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within IN. Ratings are from neighbors.