City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Monroe, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Monroe - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

20,330
Residents
$59,532
Median income
$161,500
Median home
$1,326
Median rent (state)

Monroe - the verdict

Nationally, Monroe sits in the 34th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

34th
percentile, household income
31st
percentile, home value
48th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Monroe, MI

20,330 people live in Monroe, Michigan - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $59,532 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 16.1%. Monroe's housing stock carries a median value of $161,500, and the median resident age is 36.9 years. Educational attainment runs 21.5% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 53.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 10 residential building permits were authorized in Monroe (Building Boom), up 900% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 49.9°F.

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,326 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Michigan's average monthly utility costs around $238 (state average). Commute times here average 21.1 minutes, with 82.7% driving alone and 5.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 82.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

20,330 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$59,532 /yr

Poverty 16.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Monroe compare to other US cities?

Here's how Monroe stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 34% higher than other cities
Home value 31% pricier than other cities
Median rent 48% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Monroe's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Michigan, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

34thIncome percentile

34th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Monroe's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$161,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 69% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Monroe $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Monroe, MI Monroe, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Monroe, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Monroe, MI median $59,532/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Monroe, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Monroe, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.5%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 16.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.5%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
20,330
Median Income
$59,532
Median Home Value
$161,500
Median Age
36.9
Poverty Rate
16.1%
Labor force participation
53.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.5%

Climate

Avg Temperature
49.9°F
Annual Precipitation
N/A
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
20,000 residents20,200 residents20,400 residents20,600 residents 202020212022202320242025 20,449 residents 20,076 residents ▼ -1.8%
Monroe's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
10
housing units authorized
Single-Family
4
detached homes
Multifamily
6
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 3
2021 0
2022 0
2023 14
2024 10

Permit volume increased 900% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.1 minutes
Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
1.5%
Walk
2.6%
Work from Home
5.7%
Other
1.6%

Based on 8,290 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Monroe sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,326/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.5 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

Adrian
20,493 people
Marquette
20,691 people
Ypsilanti
19,937 people
Cutlerville
19,465 people
Mount Pleasant
21,420 people
Ferndale
19,156 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Monroe's 20,330 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Marblehead, MA
20,334 people
North Amityville, NY
20,364 people
East Hemet, CA
20,292 people
Portland, TX
20,369 people
Lennox, CA
20,289 people
Makakilo, HI
20,372 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Monroe's $59,532 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Black Rock, AR
$59,531 median income
Perryville, AR
$59,531 median income
Barboursville, WV
$59,531 median income
Bayshore, OR
$59,538 median income
Roan Mountain, TN
$59,539 median income
Chisholm, ME
$59,524 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Monroe, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Monroe, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 84.8% 8.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.1% White 84.8% Black or African American 8.2% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 4.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Monroe compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Monroe (this city) 20,330 $59,532
Adrian 20,493 $42,851
Marquette 20,691 $55,825
Ypsilanti 19,937 $44,141
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Monroe, MI?

What is the population of Monroe, MI? +

The population of Monroe, MI stands at 20,330 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Monroe, MI? +

Monroe households earn a median of $59,532 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Monroe? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Monroe; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Monroe, MI? +

Homes in Monroe carry a median value of $161,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Monroe? +

Climate normals put Monroe's yearly average temperature at 49.9°F. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.