Living in Vernon, CT
Vernon is a Tolland County town east of Hartford that includes the Rockville mill district on the Hockanum River, the New England Civil War Museum and Interstate 84 access.
Vernon at a glance
- Median sale price
- $343,000+5.5% vs last year 313 sales, last 12 months
- Property tax rate
- 36.31 mills town-wide, FY2027
- Estimated yearly tax
- ~$8,700 median-priced home
- Population
- 30,895 2024 Census estimate
- Land area
- 17.7 sq mi 1,742 per sq mi
What it is like in Vernon
Vernon is in Tolland County, 19 minutes by car from Hartford. It covers 17.74 square miles of land, has a population of 30,895, and borders Bolton, Ellington, Manchester and Coventry. It was incorporated in 1808 after separating from Bolton and is named after George Washington's Mount Vernon estate.
Rockville, a section of Vernon, was incorporated as a city in 1889 and consolidated into the town in 1965. Textile mills along the Hockanum River drove its growth in the 1800s, and the Rockville Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Saxony Mill, Florence Mill and Hockanum Mill are among its mill buildings.
The War Memorial Tower on Fox Hill, in Henry Park, opened in 1939 and has views of the Connecticut River valley. Other town parks include Valley Falls Park, Talcott Park, Saxony Mill Park and Walkers Reservoir Park, and Upper and Middle Bolton Lake each have a boat launch in Vernon. The Hockanum River Linear Park follows the river through Vernon.
In Rockville, the New England Civil War Museum is on Park Place and the New England Motorcycle Museum is in Hockanum Mill on West Main Street. The Vernon Historical Society Museum is on Hartford Turnpike and publishes a walking tour of the mill buildings. The Hockanum Brew Fest has been held at Hockanum Mill. Vernon Coffee Roasters and Vernon Diner are both on Hartford Turnpike (Route 30).
Getting around from Vernon
| Drive to | Time | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Hartford | 19 min | 14 |
| New Haven | 62 min | 50 |
| Stamford | 114 min | 88 |
| New York City (Midtown) | 168 min | 123 |
| Boston | 109 min | 88 |
| Providence | 90 min | 60 |
| Bradley Airport (BDL) | 35 min | 23 |
Rail
No passenger rail station within 8 miles.
Highways and routes
Interstate 84 runs through Vernon, and Route 30 (Hartford Turnpike) is a main commercial road, with Vernon Diner just off Exit 65. Drive times: Hartford 19 minutes (14 miles), Bradley Airport 35 minutes (23 miles), Providence 90 minutes (60 miles), Boston 109 minutes (88 miles), New Haven 62 minutes (50 miles) and New York City Midtown 168 minutes (123 miles).
Schools in Vernon
7 public schools in Vernon School District. Which one serves an address depends on the district, so confirm with them.
Elementary 5
- Center Road
- Lake Street
- Maple Street
- Northeast
- Skinner Road
Middle 1
- Vernon Center
High school 1
- Rockville High School
Grades, number of students. Hover a school for its address.
For report cards, enrollment trends and spending per student, look up Vernon School District on the state's EdSight site.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data. We do not rate or rank schools.
Eat, drink and explore in Vernon
Open Vernon in Google Maps →Eat and drink 8
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Restaurant, bar and banquet venue on Hartford Turnpike serving lunch and dinner daily.
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Bakery selling fresh-baked breads, including weekly rotating sourdough flavors.
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Breakfast and lunch restaurant on Hartford Turnpike with menus posted online.
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Japanese and Asian restaurant serving sushi, hibachi, noodles and fried rice, with online pickup ordering.
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Chinese restaurant on Talcottville Road offering pickup and delivery.
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Independent coffee shop in the Vernon Commons plaza that opened in 2022 and later added a second space.
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Diner on Route 30 near I-84 Exit 65 serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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Pizza restaurant on Hartford Turnpike that has been serving food since 1971.
Things to do and see 3
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Museum on the second floor of the 1889 Memorial Building in Rockville, set in a preserved Grand Army of the Republic hall.
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Motorcycle museum in the historic Hockanum Mill in Rockville.
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Local history museum in the former Vernon Grange building on Route 30.
Parks, preserves and trails 36
Show 22 more parks and conservation parcels
Parks and open space © OpenStreetMap contributors. Places to eat and visit last checked October 2026. These are not paid placements; they are simply our selection. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.
Vernon housing market
Over the last 12 months, 313 homes sold in Vernon with a median sale price of $343,000 and a median of 7 days on market. There are 45 homes for sale right now.
Homes sold for a median of $217 per square foot. The typical home sold for 104% of its list price, and the median sale price is up 5.5% from the year before. At the current pace of sales, the homes for sale would last about 1.7 months.
Vernon's town-wide property tax rate is 36.31 mills (FY2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts, such as fire districts, can add to this, and a home's actual assessment may differ from its sale price.
Source: SmartMLS, residential sales (single-family, condo and multi-family); mill rates: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. Updated November 10, 2026.
Homes for sale in Vernon
See all 45 →
Know before you move
Official and independent sources worth bookmarking if you are considering Vernon.
Questions about Vernon
What is the median home price in Vernon, CT?
The median sale price in Vernon is $343,000, based on 313 home sales in the last 12 months (SmartMLS). Updated November 10, 2026.
What is the property tax rate in Vernon, CT?
Vernon's town-wide property tax rate is 36.31 mills (fiscal year 2027). Connecticut assesses homes at 70% of market value, so a median-priced home pays roughly $8,700 a year. Special taxing districts can add to this.
How far is Vernon, CT from Hartford?
Vernon is about 14 miles and a 19-minute drive from downtown Hartford, measured from the town center without traffic.
How far is Vernon, CT from New York City?
Vernon is about 123 miles from Midtown Manhattan, roughly a 168-minute drive without traffic.
What is the population of Vernon, CT?
Vernon has about 30,895 residents (U.S. Census Bureau estimate, 2024) and covers 17.7 square miles.
How many public schools are in Vernon, CT?
Vernon has 7 public schools in Vernon School District. Which school serves an address depends on the district's boundaries, so confirm with the district.
How many homes are for sale in Vernon, CT?
There are 45 homes for sale in Vernon right now, per SmartMLS, as of November 10, 2026.
How far is Vernon from Hartford?
Hartford is 14 miles and about 19 minutes by car.
Which highway serves Vernon?
Interstate 84 passes through the town, and Route 30 (Hartford Turnpike) is a main commercial road.
What is Rockville?
Rockville is a section of Vernon that was a separate city from 1889 to 1965. Its historic district grew around textile mills on the Hockanum River.
What museums are in Vernon?
The New England Civil War Museum, the New England Motorcycle Museum and the Vernon Historical Society Museum.
Which towns border Vernon?
Bolton, Ellington, Manchester and Coventry.
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