Monroe is a small town of 1,889 in Iowa, with a median household income of $83,362
and a 1.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Monroe stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Monroe is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Monroe city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.7
Monroe's overall cost of living index is 92.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Monroe costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Monroe, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$161,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$742
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$83,362
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Monroe's violent crime rate is 148.2 per 100,000 residents
— 61% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
148.2 /100k
Property Crime
345.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Monroe is served primarily by PCM Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Monroe, IA
National Avg
School District
PCM Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.8:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Monroe sees average highs of 30.0°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 36.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Monroe's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Monroe roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $161,700 and median rent is $742/month.
Monroe's violent crime rate is 148.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 345.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Monroe are operated by PCM Comm School District.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.8:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Monroe, IA has a population of 1,889, a median household income of $83,362, and an unemployment rate of 1.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Monroe averages 30.0°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.6 inches
with about 28.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Monroe, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50170.
The population of Monroe, Iowa is 1,889 with a median age of 38.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Monroe: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $161,700, median household income $83,362, crime index 30 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Monroe side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
