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COUNTY

Monroe County

Tennessee · 49,730 residents (2025 est.) · 635.774 sq mi
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The short version

Monroe County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $56,895. Population has grown 22% since 2000. 17% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $227,500. With a median age of 45.2, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 45.2
US median: 38.9
Less educated
17% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 74%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
47,695
+22%since 2000
from 38,961 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
75 / sq mi
+22%since 2000
from 61 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
45.2
+23%since 2000
from 36.8 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:49,730 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
29K34K39K44K49K1990201020202024Monroe County
202448K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$56,895
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,337 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,835
+100%since 2000
from $14,951 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
39.6%
+23.9 ptssince 2009
from 15.7% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
15.5%
Unchangedsince 2000
from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.438
+1%since 2010
from 0.435 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade25.7%
US avg: 9.9%
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance7.2%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade6.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical5.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services3.1%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration2.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing2.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction2.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.5%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$227,500
+74%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $71,900 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$714
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $396 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.2%
−6.2 ptssince 2000
from 78.3% in 2000
27.8% rent
Vacancy rate
9.4%
−5.1 ptssince 2009
from 14.6% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.8%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.7%
+7.4 ptssince 2009
from 37.3% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+69%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
71
RELATED:See current rent listings in Monroe County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.1%(36,677)
Black2.2%(873)
Hispanic / Latino1.8%(684)
Asian0.3%(130)
Other0%
Diversity Score10.6%(4,148)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.9%(41,463)
Black2%(950)
Hispanic / Latino4.7%(2,220)
Asian0.2%(104)
Other6.2%(2,958)
Diversity Score29.7%(14,180)
Segregation Score21%(10,034)
Diversity Score
30
+179%since 2000
from 11 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
21
−6%since 2020
from 22 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
17.1%
+7.0 ptssince 2000
from 10.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
85.6%
+18.8 ptssince 2000
from 66.7% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.9%
+2.1 ptssince 2000
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
28.3 min
+54%since 2000
from 18.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.4%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 83.9% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
7.3%
+4.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.6%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.1%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.5% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.3%
−7.8 ptssince 2011
from 12.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
50.9%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 55.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
13.8%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.1% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.4%
−28.5 ptssince 2009
from 55.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
Female
50.4%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 50.8% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.9%
−40.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.5% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
22.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2012
from 21.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.7%
−72.3 ptssince 2013
from 84.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
85.1%
+19.2 ptssince 2017
from 65.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
94.6%
−1.3 ptssince 2016
from 95.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.6%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Monroe County

Levy County
Pop 48,520
Suwannee County
Pop 48,149
Knox County
Pop 47,767
Hendry County
Pop 48,276
Places similar to Monroe County
Head to head

Compare Monroe County to nearby counties

MONROE COUNTY VS
Loudon County
Income$84,185+48%
Home value$348,000+53%
Population63,764+28%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
McMinn County
Income$61,470+8%
Home value$211,800−7%
Population57,404+15%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
Cherokee County
Income$53,628−6%
Home value$232,300+2%
Population30,830−38%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
MONROE COUNTY VS
Graham County
Income$49,684−13%
Home value$170,600−25%
Population8,190−84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Monroe County, Tennessee?

Monroe County, Tennessee has about 47,695 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Monroe County, Tennessee earns about $56,895 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Monroe County, Tennessee expensive?

In Monroe County, Tennessee, the median home is worth about $227,500, and the typical rent is about $714 a month.

How educated are people in Monroe County, Tennessee?

About 17.1% of adults age 25 and over in Monroe County, Tennessee hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Monroe County, Tennessee?

About 15.5% of people in Monroe County, Tennessee live below the federal poverty line.

Has Monroe County, Tennessee grown since 1990?

Yes, Monroe County, Tennessee has grown since 1990. The population has added about 17,154 residents, a change of about 56 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

12 census tracts
Census Tract 9252Census Tract 9254.02Census Tract 9250.01Census Tract 9253.01Census Tract 9254.01Census Tract 9250.02Census Tract 9251.01Census Tract 9251.02Census Tract 9255.01Census Tract 9255.03Census Tract 9253.02Census Tract 9255.04
4 ZIP codes
ZIP 37354ZIP 37874ZIP 37385ZIP 37885
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →