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Buying a home in Vernon Center, Minnesota

The typical owner-occupied home in Vernon Center is worth about $143,300, 56% below the Minnesota median of $329,300 and 57% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,750 a year in property taxes, about 1.22% of their home's value, higher than the Minnesota rate of 1.02%. The median household earns $70,000 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (3.7 times for Minnesota). 84% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Vernon Center at a glance

Vernon Center Minnesota U.S.
Median home value $143,300 $329,300 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,750 $3,357 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.22% 1.02% 0.94%
Median household income $70,000 $89,062 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 84% 72% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 64% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,211 $1,947 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 19.5% 19.7% 21.0%
Median rent $950 $1,280 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 12.5% 29.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1938 1979 1980
Vacant homes 3.5% 9.3% 10.1%
Population 329 5,739,445 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Vernon Center

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Vernon Center home of $143,300 with 20% down costs about $977 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,215, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $41,854 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 17% of the median Vernon Center household income of $70,000; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $240,000.

The median rent here is $950 a month, so owning the median home costs about $27 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$28,660
Loan amount$114,640
Principal and interest$771
Property taxes (1.22% a year)$146
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
PMI$0
Total per month$977

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,016
Loan amount$140,704
Principal and interest$947
Property taxes (1.22% a year)$146
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$60
FHA mortgage insurance$63
Total per month$1,215

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Questions about home buying in Vernon Center

What is the median home value in Vernon Center?

About $143,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Vernon Center?

Homeowners pay a median $1,750 a year, which is about 1.22% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Vernon Center?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $977 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $41,854 a year.

More about Vernon Center

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data