The Town FilesMonroe, North Carolina
City in Union County · population 34,562 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $309,100
- Household income
- $72,540
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 2 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 35.5
Monroe is a city of 34,562 people in Union County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $309,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks more vibrant than 88% of North Carolina towns, better for cycling than 86% of North Carolina towns, better transit than 80% of North Carolina towns.
How Monroe ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monroe is worth $309,100, above the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $72,540, which is more affordable than 32% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $1,246 a month. 61.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monroe | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $309,100 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $1,246 | $969 |
| Median household income | $72,540 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 61.6% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1989 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Monroe
| People | Monroe | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.9% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.8% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 30.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.6% | 89.5% |
Weather in Monroe
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.3°F. About 47.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 2.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 55 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 69 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on May 5, 1989 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 24 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 5, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Union County since 1996
Union County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for drought, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 28, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
Jobs and pay in Union County
Union County had 74,299 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,500 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Monroe itself the ACS puts it at 4.6%.
Public schools in Monroe
25 public schools with 17,554 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Union Academy (charter) | K-12 | 2,193 | 17.0 |
| Sun Valley High | 9-12 | 1,383 | 17.7 |
| Piedmont High | 9-12 | 1,304 | 19.8 |
| Monroe High | 9-12 | 1,099 | 15.7 |
| Parkwood High | 9-12 | 1,055 | 16.5 |
| Piedmont Middle | 6-8 | 991 | 18.4 |
| Monroe Middle | 6-8 | 855 | 16.8 |
| Central Academy of Technology and Arts | 9-12 | 846 | 16.3 |
| Parkwood Middle | 6-8 | 821 | 20.0 |
| Wesley Chapel Elementary | K-5 | 767 | 15.7 |
| Unionville Elementary | PK-5 | 687 | 15.3 |
| Shiloh Valley Primary School | PK-2 | 622 | 14.5 |
Towns near Monroe
- Unionville, NC5.9 mi · 6,643 people · home $336,200
- Wingate, NC6.5 mi · 4,055 people · home $229,800
- Indian Trail, NC6.9 mi · 39,997 people · home $385,000
- Lake Park, NC7.1 mi · 3,269 people · home $334,500
- Wesley Chapel, NC7.5 mi · 8,681 people · home $535,500
- Mineral Springs, NC8.1 mi · 3,159 people · home $389,900
- Hemby Bridge, NC8.2 mi · 1,614 people · home $298,400
- Stallings, NC9.4 mi · 16,112 people · home $428,000
Monroe questions
Is Monroe, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monroe scores better for retirees than 11% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 19%. 14.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in Monroe?
The median owner-occupied home in Monroe is valued at $309,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,540, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,246 a month.
What is the weather like in Monroe?
July highs average 91.1°F and January lows 30.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2.1 inches of snow.
Does Monroe get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on May 5, 1989. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)