Mount Vernon, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Mount Vernon · Montgomery County, Georgia
Population 2,080 (est. 2026: ~1,600)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -8.03% annual growth projection

Mount Vernon, Georgia

Montgomery County, Georgia · Population 1,990

Mount Vernon sits at the center of Montgomery County in the coastal plain of southeast Georgia, roughly 60 miles west of Savannah and 60 miles east of Macon. It serves as the county seat — a small but functional hub for a rural county of 8,610 people. The Oconee River runs nearby, and the landscape is flat, piney, and agricultural. This is not a suburb of anything. The nearest metro is Savannah, and the drive is real. What Mount Vernon offers is low costs, deep community ties, and Brewton-Parker College — a four-year Baptist liberal arts school that gives the town an institutional anchor unusual for a place this size.

People & Demographics

Mount Vernon's ACS-estimated population is 2,251, with a median age of 28.8 — strikingly young for a rural Georgia town. The state median age hovers near 37, which puts Mount Vernon well below that mark. The youth skew reflects the college presence and a large share of children: 615 residents are under 18.

The town is roughly evenly split between White (1,091) and Black (1,031) residents. Average household size is 3.24 people — larger than many Georgia communities — spread across 618 occupied households. Of those, 400 are family households.

Economy & Employment

The median household income is $33,788 — well below the Georgia statewide median, which typically runs near $65,000. Per capita income sits at $14,292. These numbers reflect a town dealing with persistent rural poverty: 636 residents fall below the federal poverty line, which is a substantial portion of the population.

Of 795 labor force participants, 130 are unemployed — an unemployment rate of roughly 16%, significantly elevated compared to state and national averages. The local economy leans on government employment, education (Brewton-Parker College), and agriculture. Montgomery County has no large industrial employers. Residents who need specialized work commute out of the county.

Housing

Mount Vernon's housing market is among the most affordable in the state. The median home value is $90,000. Median rent is $619 per month. These numbers reflect rural coastal plain pricing — far below Georgia's statewide medians.

Of 820 total housing units, 618 are occupied. The 202 vacant units represent a 24.6% vacancy rate, which is high and common in small rural towns where population has declined over decades. Of occupied units, 358 are owner-occupied and 260 are renter-occupied — roughly a 58/42 split. For anyone priced out of larger Georgia markets, the affordability here is genuine, though wages reflect the same rural economy.

Schools

Montgomery County operates a consolidated school system serving the entire county. Both secondary schools are located in or near Mount Vernon:

Brewton-Parker College, located in Mount Vernon, provides four-year undergraduate education and is one of the defining institutions of the community.

Getting Around

Mount Vernon is car-dependent. Of 665 working residents, 497 drive alone and 68 carpool. Zero use public transit — none exists. Eighteen residents walk to work, and 82 work from home. Average commute time works out to roughly 26.8 minutes per worker based on aggregate travel time, which suggests a meaningful share of the workforce commutes to Vidalia, Statesboro, or beyond for employment. State Route 280 and US 221 connect Mount Vernon to surrounding communities.

Healthcare

There is no hospital within Mount Vernon. Toombs County's Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia — about 17 miles east — serves as the primary regional hospital. Residents with serious medical needs may also travel to Statesboro or Savannah.

Local providers registered with CMS can be searched through the NPI Registry for Mount Vernon, GA.

Library

Montgomery County Library is located 0.9 miles from the town center and serves the county's reading and research needs. Phone: (912) 583-2780. It is part of the Oconee Regional Library System.

Natural Hazards

Montgomery County has a serious hurricane and storm history. FEMA has issued 15 disaster or emergency declarations for the county since 2004:

The pattern is clear: southeast Georgia's coastal plain sits directly in the path of Atlantic and Gulf storms. Nearly every significant hurricane to strike the Southeast in the past 20 years has touched Montgomery County in some form. Anyone living here should have an evacuation plan and appropriate insurance.

Government & Municipal Code

Mount Vernon's municipal code is published by Municode and available at library.municode.com/ga/mount-vernon-city-georgia. The city does not have a locally adopted building code on file with Municode. Residents undertaking construction should verify applicable state and county requirements directly.

Weather

Current forecasts are available from the National Weather Service: - NWS Forecast for Mount Vernon - Active Weather Alerts

The nearest weather observation station is Ailey, approximately 0.9 miles away. The climate is humid subtropical — hot, humid summers, mild winters, and a hurricane season that runs June through November and demands serious attention given this county's FEMA record.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)