Mount Vernon has opportunities nearby, but access still matters. The city’s estimated 2025 population is 72,304, with 14.7% of residents living in poverty and workers facing a 35-minute mean commute. Jobs are growing, but skills still matter. The Hudson Valley added 14,000 private-sector jobs, up 1.7% year over year through August 2026, reaching a record 859,900 private jobs, according to New York State labor data. That growth creates a real opening. It also raises a practica