What are the schools like in Monroe, LA?

Monroe is served primarily by City of Monroe School District. The district operates 12 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.6:1.

What is the median household income in Monroe?

The median household income in Monroe, LA is $36,550 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 10.7%.

What is the weather like in Monroe, LA?

Monroe has an average high temperature of 57.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 57.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 0.6 inches.

Monroe, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Monroe, LA affordable or expensive?

Monroe's cost of living index is 84, where 100 represents the national average. This means Monroe is 16% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $158,200 and the median rent is $790 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Monroe, LA?

Monroe has a violent crime rate of 1892.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 5733.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Monroe, LA a Good Place to Live?

Monroe is a small city of 47,631 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $36,550 and a 10.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 84 (US average = 100), which is 16% below the national average.

Strengths: Monroe stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 83.6

Monroe's overall cost of living index is 83.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Monroe costs roughly 16% less than the average American city.

Metric	Monroe, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$158,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$790	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,550	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Monroe's violent crime rate is 1892.4 per 100,000 residents — 398% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1892.4 /100k

Property Crime

5733.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Monroe is served primarily by City of Monroe School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Monroe, LA	National Avg
School District	City of Monroe School District	—
Elementary Schools	12	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	3	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	85.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Monroe sees average highs of 57.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July, with 57.6 inches of annual precipitation and 0.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Monroe, LA
Average High — January	57.0°F
Average High — July	93.2°F
Annual Precipitation	57.6"
Annual Snowfall	0.6"

Demographics

Metric	Monroe, LA	National Avg
Population	47,631	—
Median Age	34.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	10.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	33.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	61.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.6%	18.9%
Asian	1.5%	6.3%
Under 18	25.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lakeshore, LA 3 mi West Monroe, LA 4 mi Richwood, LA 5 mi Brownsville, LA 5 mi Bawcomville, LA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Monroe

Monroe, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

71203 71201 71202 71212 71209

Monroe vs Other Cities

Monroe, LA vs Lakeshore, LA Monroe, LA vs West Monroe, LA Monroe, LA vs Richwood, LA Monroe, LA vs Brownsville, LA Monroe, LA vs Bawcomville, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monroe, LA affordable or expensive?

Monroe's cost of living index is 84, where 100 is the national average. That makes Monroe roughly 16% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $158,200 and median rent is $790/month.

What is the crime rate in Monroe, LA?

Monroe's violent crime rate is 1892.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 5733.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Monroe?

Public schools in Monroe are operated by City of Monroe School District. The district has 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 26.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Monroe, LA a good place to live?

Monroe, LA has a population of 47,631, a median household income of $36,550, and an unemployment rate of 10.7%. 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.

What is the weather like in Monroe?

Monroe averages 57.0°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 57.6 inches with about 0.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Monroe?

Monroe, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 71203, 71201, 71202, 71212, 71209.

What is the population of Monroe?

The population of Monroe, Louisiana is 47,631 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Monroe?

Key numbers for living in Monroe: cost of living index 84 (100 = US average), median home $158,200, median household income $36,550, crime index 400 (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.