City · North Carolina
Monroe, North Carolina
Monroe, city, in Union County, North Carolina. Monroe had 42,644 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 23.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 34,562 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 36,759 (±42). GEOID 3743920.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
42,644
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 34,562 · ACS 2020-2024: 36,759 ±42
Median household income
$72,540
±$7,677 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $72,388
Median home value
$309,100
±$17,667 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $288,900
Median gross rent
$1,246
±$66 (90% margin)
North Carolina: $1,228
Where is Monroe and what county is it in?
Monroe is a city in Union County, North Carolina. It covers 32.2 square miles of land, 1,074 residents per square mile in 2020.
Monroe is in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 11 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Monroe, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 42,644 people lived in Monroe on July 1, 2025, up 23.1% since 2020, faster than North Carolina (+7.2%). The 2020 Census counted 34,562 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 36,759 (±42).
| Measure | Monroe | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 36,759 ±42 | 250,958 | +1,654 |
| Households | 12,620 ±581 | 84,237 | +1,138 |
| Average household size | 2.86 ±0.13 | 2.95 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 13,469 ±583 | 88,851 | +988 |
Monroe's population since 2000
From 26,228 in 2000 to 42,644 in 2025: up 62.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Monroe as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Monroe?
The median resident of Monroe is 35.5 years old; 24.5% are under 18 and 14.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 43.7%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 30.9%. 17.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Monroe | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 ±1.6 | 39.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.5% ±2.1 pts | 25.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 14.9% ±1.8 pts | 13.5% | – |
| Male | 50.4% ±1.9 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 30.9% ±3.2 pts | 13.4% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 43.7% ±2.9 pts | 66.8% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 19.7% ±2.3 pts | 10.9% | −5.5 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.0% ±0.6 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±1.2 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.8% ±2.1 pts | 12.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 29.3% ±3.3 pts | 17.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.8% ±1.2 pts | 6.3% | – |
| With a disability | 12.9% ±1.4 pts | 9.6% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 16.3% ±2.0 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 82.6% ±2.5 pts | 90.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 24.1% ±2.5 pts | 40.5% | +7.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.9% ±1.6 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 91.0% ±1.7 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.8% ±0.7 pts | 2.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Monroe earn?
Half of Monroe's 12,620 households earn less than $72,540 a year (±$7,677), against $102,900 in Union County and $72,388 in North Carolina. In 2015-2019 the median was $63,693 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $8,847 after inflation. 13.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Monroe | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,540 ±$7,677 | $102,900 | +$8,847 |
| Mean household income | $88,429 ±$5,283 | $137,465 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,089 ±$1,727 | $46,949 | +$3,662 |
| People below the poverty line | 13.3% ±2.7 pts | 7.7% | −4.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 18.9% ±5.5 pts | 10.6% | −9.2 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.7% ±2.8 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.7% ±1.9 pts | 96.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.6% ±2.3 pts | 94.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Monroe?
Owners occupy 61.6% of Monroe's occupied homes and renters 38.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $309,100 by its owner (±$17,667). The median renter pays $1,246 a month including utilities, and 40.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Monroe | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $309,100 ±$17,667 | $417,300 | +$107,266 |
| Median gross rent | $1,246 ±$66 | $1,496 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.9% ±7.6 pts | 35.9% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,615 ±$58 | $1,940 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.6% ±3.9 pts | 81.6% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 38.4% ±3.9 pts | 18.4% | – |
| Housing units | 13,469 ±583 | 88,851 | +988 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.0% ±2.0 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.3% ±3.2 pts | 86.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 2.5% ±1.0 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 4.2% ±1.5 pts | 4.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 7.7% ±2.0 pts | 16.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.9% ±1.9 pts | 2.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.1% ±2.0 pts | 2.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Monroe building?
Builders took permits for 598 new housing units in Monroe in 2025 (598 in single-family houses), 14.0 per 1,000 residents against 7.7 across North Carolina.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Monroe work and get to work?
75.1% of Monroe's workers drive alone and 7.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Monroe | Union County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.2% ±2.4 pts | 67.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±1.4 pts | 4.2% | −4.0 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 75.1% ±3.8 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 14.8% ±3.1 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.7% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.5% ±1.8 pts | 19.5% | +5.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.1 min ±2.2 | 29.8 min | +4.4 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Monroe?
8 census tracts lie mostly in Monroe, and 6 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $43,797 (Tract 204.06) to $91,402 (Tract 204.03).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 205.01Union County | 5,610 | $89,219 |
| Tract 204.06Union County | 4,067 | $43,797 |
| Tract 204.01Union County | 7,174 | $89,853 |
| Tract 206.02Union County | 4,700 | $66,350 |
| Tract 206.01Union County | 5,873 | $67,917 |
| Tract 205.02Union County | 3,790 | $74,867 |
| Tract 204.03Union County | 4,475 | $91,402 |
| Tract 204.05Union County | 1,969 | $54,707 |
| Tract 203.21Union County | 4,500 | $82,065 |
| Tract 203.07Union County | 7,441 | $82,666 |
| Tract 202.05Union County | 3,885 | $74,665 |
| Tract 203.08Union County | 8,276 | $109,256 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Monroe) · Census block assignment files
How does Monroe compare with other places in North Carolina?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Monroe is the 973rd-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 28th-most populous of 549 in North Carolina.
Monroe ranks 164th of 434 places in North Carolina with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 28th | 549 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 19th | 331 |
| Residents per square mile | 165th | 443 |
| Median household income | 164th | 434 |
| Per capita income | 259th | 443 |
| Median home value | 154th | 438 |
| Median gross rent | 122nd | 395 |
| Poverty rate | 201st | 341 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 250th | 421 |
| Median age | 372nd | 442 |
| Owner-occupied share | 270th | 443 |
| Work from home | 236th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 70th | 439 |
Monroe's figures with every place in North Carolina (CSV)
Every place in North Carolina, sortable · Compare Monroe with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Monroe?
6 of the 57 figures for Monroe on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Monroe are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Monroe.