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COUNTY

Monroe County

Iowa · 7,406 residents (2025 est.) · 433.708 sq mi
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The short version

Monroe County has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $70,996. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $156,300. It sits in the top 10% of US counties for household income.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 41.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
21% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 48%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
7,513
−6%since 2000
from 8,016 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
17 / sq mi
−1%since 2009
from 18 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
41.8
+5%since 2000
from 39.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:7,406 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
7K8K8K8K8K1990201020202024Monroe County
20248K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.8%(437)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.2%(466)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.6%(493)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196%(450)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(450)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(786)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4411.9%(897)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.8%(886)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.6%(1,100)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7411.8%(887)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.1%(382)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over3.7%(279)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$70,996
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $34,877 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,132
+105%since 2000
from $17,155 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
46.4%
+28.9 ptssince 2009
from 17.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
9.2%
+0.1 ptssince 2000
from 9.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.383
−5%since 2010
from 0.401 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade19.4%
US avg: 9.9%
Wholesale trade9.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Information8.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Other services8.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance7.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration6.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Professional, scientific, technical4.8%
US avg: 5.1%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.8%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services2.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing2%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.3%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$156,300
+48%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $58,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$798
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $399 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
81.3%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 78.4% in 2000
18.7% rent
Vacancy rate
15.5%
+4.5 ptssince 2009
from 11.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.2%
−7.2 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
38.9%
−5.9 ptssince 2009
from 44.8% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.2
+15%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
71
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Monroe County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.1%(7,864)
Black0.2%(16)
Hispanic / Latino0.5%(40)
Asian0.4%(32)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic94.8%(7,121)
Black1.2%(90)
Hispanic / Latino2.1%(156)
Asian0.5%(35)
Other1.5%(111)
Diversity Score
13
+101%since 2009
from 6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
11
−23%since 2020
from 14 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Mexican1%(72)
Cuban0.8%(61)
Panamanian0.2%(12)
Asian origin
Ancestry
Irish21.1%(1,587)
German20.1%(1,513)
English15.5%(1,167)
American4.9%(365)
Dutch3.2%(244)
Scotch-Irish2.4%(180)
Swedish2.4%(178)
Scottish1.9%(145)
Norwegian1.7%(128)
Italian1.6%(122)
Welsh1.6%(120)
French1.2%(92)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Polish1.2%(88)
West Indian1.1%(80)
Jamaican1.1%(80)
Turkish0.7%(56)
Czech0.7%(50)
Danish0.5%(34)
Russian0.4%(33)
Canadian0.4%(28)
Arab0.2%(14)
Lebanese0.2%(14)
Croatian0.2%(14)
British0.2%(13)
Slovak0.1%(11)
Finnish0.1%(10)
Lithuanian0.1%(10)
Swiss0.1%(6)
RANKED:Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest American population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
21.4%
+8.8 ptssince 2000
from 12.6% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
95.4%
+13.2 ptssince 2000
from 82.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.4%
+4.3 ptssince 2000
from 3.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
29.4 min
+58%since 2000
from 18.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
78.4%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 81.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.0%
+4.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.0% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
2.1%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.6%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 4.9% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.1%
−4.7 ptssince 2011
from 7.9% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.4%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 62.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2009
from 15.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.6%
−22.9 ptssince 2009
from 59.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.1%
+1.1 ptssince 2009
from 49.0% in 2009
Female
49.9%
−1.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.0% in 2009
Foreign born
0.7%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
4.8%
−43.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.8%
+2.2 ptssince 2012
from 13.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
3.6%
−85.6 ptssince 2013
from 89.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
86.2%
+16.6 ptssince 2017
from 69.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
96.1%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 96.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 1.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married26.8%(817)
Married55.1%(1,676)
Widowed3.6%(109)
Divorced14.5%(442)
Women 15+
Never married21%(645)
Married54.5%(1,675)
Widowed6.7%(206)
Divorced17.8%(547)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Monroe County to nearby counties

MONROE COUNTY VS
Appanoose County
Income$54,934−23%
Home value$124,200−21%
Population12,077+63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
Marion County
Income$78,680+11%
Home value$233,000+49%
Population34,192+362%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
Wapello County
Income$64,766−9%
Home value$125,100−20%
Population35,210+375%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
Lucas County
Income$61,793−13%
Home value$120,200−23%
Population8,847+19%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Monroe County, Iowa?

Monroe County, Iowa has about 7,513 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Monroe County, Iowa?

The typical household in Monroe County, Iowa earns about $70,996 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Monroe County, Iowa expensive?

In Monroe County, Iowa, the median home is worth about $156,300, and the typical rent is about $798 a month.

How educated are people in Monroe County, Iowa?

About 21.4% of adults age 25 and over in Monroe County, Iowa hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Monroe County, Iowa?

About 9.2% of people in Monroe County, Iowa live below the federal poverty line.

Has Monroe County, Iowa grown since 1990?

Yes, Monroe County, Iowa has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 601 residents, a change of about -7 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

3 census tracts
Census Tract 701Census Tract 702Census Tract 703
3 ZIP codes
ZIP 52531ZIP 50150ZIP 52569
Up the hierarchy
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →