The Town FilesMonroe, Michigan
City in Monroe County · population 20,462 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $167,900
- Household income
- $59,813
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 41 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 37.6
Monroe is a city of 20,462 people in Monroe County, Michigan. The median home is worth $167,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Michigan towns, more vibrant than 95% of Michigan towns, hipper than 95% of Michigan towns.
How Monroe ranks
Percentile among Michigan towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Michigan towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monroe is worth $167,900, below the typical Michigan town ($193,900). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $59,813, which is more affordable than 55% of Michigan towns. Median rent is $909 a month. 69.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monroe | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $167,900 | $193,900 |
| Median rent | $909 | $955 |
| Median household income | $59,813 | $69,792 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1975 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Monroe
| People | Monroe | Typical Michigan town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 43.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.8% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.9% | 21.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.2% | 10.4% |
| Veterans | 5.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 9.1% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 25.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.2% | 88.8% |
Weather in Monroe
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 18.1°F. About 33.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 41.2 inches of snow (typical Michigan town: 52.1 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 125 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Michigan town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 17, 1963 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 24, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 32 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on March 27, 1991.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2024 | Flood | DR-4757: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4494: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3455: Covid-19 |
| September 7, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3225: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| September 23, 2003 | Other | EM-3189: Power Outage |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 41,159 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $60,516 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Monroe itself the ACS puts it at 7.3%.
Public schools in Monroe
8 public schools with 3,609 students, about 20.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph Academy (charter) | PK-8 | 771 | 20.3 |
| Monroe Middle School | 6-8 | 661 | 18.9 |
| Raisinville School | PK-6 | 444 | 20.2 |
| Manor Elementary School | PK-6 | 411 | 17.9 |
| Arborwood Elementary School | PK-6 | 404 | 15.5 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 5-8 | 390 | 21.7 |
| Orchard Center High School | 6-12 | 297 | 74.3 |
| Sodt Elementary School | PK-1 | 231 | 16.5 |
Towns near Monroe
- South Monroe, MI2.4 mi · 6,468 people · home $184,000
- West Monroe, MI2.4 mi · 3,227 people · home $109,200
- Monroe, MI2.6 mi · 14,391 people · home $187,200
- Frenchtown, MI3.4 mi · 21,609 people · home $208,000
- La Salle, MI6.3 mi · 4,639 people · home $233,200
- Raisinville, MI6.8 mi · 5,903 people · home $240,400
- Ash, MI9.7 mi · 7,860 people · home $257,900
- Berlin, MI10.2 mi · 9,890 people · home $268,300
Monroe questions
Is Monroe, Michigan a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monroe scores better for retirees than 15% of Michigan towns and quieter than 9%. 15.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Monroe?
The median owner-occupied home in Monroe is valued at $167,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,813, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $909 a month.
What is the weather like in Monroe?
July highs average 83.2°F and January lows 18.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.3 inches of precipitation a year and 41.2 inches of snow.
Does Monroe get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 17, 1963. The typical Michigan town has had 10.
- 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)