Median Income
$63,982
household / year
Median Home Value
$234,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,115
gross / month
Cost of Living
97
national avg = 100

Is Monroe, NC a Good Place to Live?

Monroe is a small city of 34,897 in North Carolina, with a median household income of $63,982 and a 6.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

Strengths: Monroe stands out for below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-).

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: 97.0

Monroe's overall cost of living index is 97.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Monroe costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric Monroe, NC National Avg
Median Home Value $234,300 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,115 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 59.5% 65.9%
Median Household Income $63,982 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Monroe's violent crime rate is 652.9 per 100,000 residents — 72% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime
652.9 /100k
Property Crime
3333.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Monroe is served primarily by Union County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Monroe, NC National Avg
School District Union County Public Schools —
Elementary Schools 30 —
Middle Schools 9 —
High Schools 13 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 16.5:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.8% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 82.3% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Monroe sees average highs of 53.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July, with 46.5 inches of annual precipitation and 2.1 inches of snow per year.

MetricMonroe, NC
Average High — January53.1°F
Average High — July91.1°F
Annual Precipitation46.5"
Annual Snowfall2.1"

Demographics

MetricMonroe, NCNational Avg
Population34,897—
Median Age36.138.9
Unemployment Rate6.2%3.7%
Avg Commute Time28.8 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)55.2%59.3%
Black or African American23.1%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino17.2%18.9%
Asian0.6%6.3%
Under 1824.5%22.2%
65 and over14.5%16.8%

Nearby Cities

Unionville, NC 6 mi Wingate, NC 6 mi Indian Trail, NC 7 mi Lake Park, NC 7 mi Wesley Chapel, NC 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Monroe

Monroe, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code:

28112

Monroe vs Other Cities

Monroe, NC vs Unionville, NC Monroe, NC vs Wingate, NC Monroe, NC vs Indian Trail, NC Monroe, NC vs Lake Park, NC Monroe, NC vs Wesley Chapel, NC

Frequently Asked Questions

Monroe's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Monroe roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $234,300 and median rent is $1,115/month.
Monroe's violent crime rate is 652.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3333.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Monroe are operated by Union County Public Schools. The district has 30 elementary, 9 middle, and 13 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.5:1. 20.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Monroe, NC has a population of 34,897, a median household income of $63,982, and an unemployment rate of 6.2%. 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 53.1°F in January and 91.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 46.5 inches with about 2.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Monroe, NC is covered by 1 ZIP code: 28112.
The population of Monroe, North Carolina is 34,897 with a median age of 36.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Monroe: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $234,300, median household income $63,982, crime index 167 (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.