The Town FilesMonroe City, Missouri
City in Monroe County · population 2,652 (2020 Census) · spans 3 counties
- Median home
- $159,300
- Household income
- $55,737
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 37.5
Monroe City is a city of 2,652 people in Monroe County, Missouri. The median home is worth $159,300, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). It ranks better for a vacation home than 92% of Missouri towns, better for retirees than 89% of Missouri towns, quieter than 70% of Missouri towns.
How Monroe City ranks
Percentile among Missouri towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Missouri towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monroe City is worth $159,300, close to the typical Missouri town ($153,900). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $55,737, which is more affordable than 43% of Missouri towns. Median rent is $668 a month. 46.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monroe City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $159,300 | $153,900 |
| Median rent | $668 | $855 |
| Median household income | $55,737 | $56,368 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.7× |
| Homeownership | 46.9% | 67.4% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1972 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Monroe City
| People | Monroe City | Typical Missouri town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 17.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.5% | 18.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.7% | 14.6% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.5% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 7.9% |
| Average commute | 21.9 min | 23.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.6% | 88.7% |
Weather in Monroe City
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 17.6°F. About 41.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.6 inches of snow (typical Missouri town: 11.1 in). Expect about 30 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe City since 1950, compared with 23 for the typical Missouri town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 12, 2006 about 0.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 25, 2017.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 21, 1974.
Severe weather in Monroe County since 1996
Monroe County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482: Covid-19 |
| July 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| August 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Monroe County
Monroe County had 1,849 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,014 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Monroe City itself the ACS puts it at 0.8%.
Public schools in Monroe City
3 public schools with 776 students, about 12.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| MONROE CITY ELEM. | PK-4 | 329 | 12.2 |
| MONROE CITY R-I HIGH | 9-12 | 260 | 12.4 |
| MONROE CITY MIDDLE | 5-8 | 187 | 11.7 |
Towns near Monroe City
- Palmyra, MO14.8 mi · 3,613 people · home $184,200
- Hannibal, MO18.4 mi · 17,108 people · home $127,700
- Quincy, IL26.9 mi · 39,463 people · home $153,200
- Vandalia, MO27.2 mi · 3,553 people · home $84,500
Monroe City questions
Is Monroe City, Missouri a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monroe City scores better for retirees than 89% of Missouri towns and quieter than 70%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.5).
How much does a house cost in Monroe City?
The median owner-occupied home in Monroe City is valued at $159,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,737, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $668 a month.
What is the weather like in Monroe City?
July highs average 86.2°F and January lows 17.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.7 inches of precipitation a year and 14.6 inches of snow.
Does Monroe City get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 12, 2006. The typical Missouri town has had 23.
- 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)