The Town FilesMonroe, Iowa
City in Jasper County · population 1,967 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $177,200
- Household income
- $80,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 31
- Median age
- 35.3
Monroe is a city of 1,967 people in Jasper County, Iowa. The median home is worth $177,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 85% of Iowa towns, more of a college town than 81% of Iowa towns, better for retirees than 72% of Iowa towns.
How Monroe ranks
Percentile among Iowa towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Iowa towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monroe is worth $177,200, above the typical Iowa town ($156,300). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $80,375, which is more affordable than 56% of Iowa towns. Median rent is $817 a month. 78.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monroe | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $177,200 | $156,300 |
| Median rent | $817 | $820 |
| Median household income | $80,375 | $69,254 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 78.1% | 77.1% |
| Median year built | 1965 | 1962 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Monroe
| People | Monroe | Typical Iowa town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.7% | 20.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.0% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 9.3% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 4.3% | 7.1% |
| Average commute | 24.4 min | 21.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.8% | 88.5% |
Weather in Monroe
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F. About 36.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.3 inches of snow (typical Iowa town: 32.5 in). Expect about 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 137 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950, compared with 24 for the typical Iowa town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on July 19, 2018 about 9.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 25, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 68 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 18, 2000.
Severe weather in Jasper County since 1996
Jasper County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4942: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| May 24, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4784: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 17, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4557: Severe Storms |
| March 23, 2020 | Biological | DR-4483: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3480: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Jasper County
Jasper County had 10,453 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,910 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Monroe itself the ACS puts it at 6%.
Public schools in Monroe
2 public schools with 536 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCM High School | 9-12 | 344 | 14.3 |
| Monroe Elementary School | PK-3 | 192 | 12.0 |
Towns near Monroe
- Prairie City, IA8.8 mi · 1,700 people · home $190,600
- Pella, IA12.5 mi · 10,464 people · home $292,700
- Pleasantville, IA12.6 mi · 1,676 people · home $168,300
- Newton, IA12.7 mi · 15,760 people · home $153,700
- Colfax, IA13.1 mi · 2,255 people · home $178,000
- Knoxville, IA13.9 mi · 7,595 people · home $160,300
- Sully, IA13.9 mi · 881 people · home $173,700
- Hartford, IA16.1 mi · 733 people · home $176,700
Monroe questions
Is Monroe, Iowa a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monroe scores better for retirees than 72% of Iowa towns and quieter than 69%. 14.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.3).
How much does a house cost in Monroe?
The median owner-occupied home in Monroe is valued at $177,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,375, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $817 a month.
What is the weather like in Monroe?
July highs average 83.5°F and January lows 12.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 36.6 inches of precipitation a year and 29.3 inches of snow.
Does Monroe get tornadoes?
31 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on July 19, 2018. The typical Iowa town has had 24.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)