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Living in
Monroe.
About
Life in Monroe
Living in Monroe means embracing small-town Georgia life while staying tethered to Atlanta's job market—about 35 miles and an hour's drive away. The cost of living is genuinely affordable; median home prices hover around $259,000 and rent averages $1,105 a month, which buys you actual space compared to the sprawl closer to the city. Jobs exist locally (Walmart's southeast distribution center, Hitachi, and other industrial employers on the east end keep unemployment at a reasonable 3.1%), but most residents commute west toward Atlanta for better opportunities and wages, and that 26-minute average commute can stretch significantly during rush hour.
Monroe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
30.7 yrs
Poverty Rate
33.8%
Foreign-Born
3.1%
Broadband Internet
84.9%
of households
Population Growth
+10.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Monroe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Monroe, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (46.6%), and 3.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
28.4%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
37.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
28.5%
of households
Married Couples
29.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.91
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below GA average
Rent, home values, and income in Monroe
In Monroe, rent runs 21% below the GA average, and home values are 15% below the GA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
54.8%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
100.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,282
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1979
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $374,249 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for GA
Unemployment in Monroe
Unemployment in Walton County, which includes Monroe, is close to the GA average.
Unemployment rate
Monroe: Walton County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Walton County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Monroe Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute32.1 min avg
How Monroe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Monroe, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 52% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 42 mi
Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Major hub51.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 14% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Monroe runs 14% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
283.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,753.3
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Monroe Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 5 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
55.0 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Walton County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Walton County, which includes Monroe, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 5 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $52,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $125,000 |
| 2023 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $105,000 |
| 2022 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $106,000 |
| 2021 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2020 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $144,000 |
| 2019 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $59,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $276,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Walton County, county-wide
Air Quality36 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Rockdale County, GA (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 21 miles from Monroe) is typically good — 229 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
36
Good Days
229
per year
Moderate Days
13
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Rockdale County, GA (21 mi away)
Climate88°F summers, 34°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Monroe has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and mild winters (avg low 34°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
73°/51°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
56°/34°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.9"
Annual Snowfall
0.5"
Hot Days/Year
37
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
60
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
89
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°F | 32°F | 5.04" |
| Feb | 58°F | 35°F | 4.40" |
| Mar | 66°F | 40°F | 5.19" |
| Apr | 74°F | 47°F | 4.27" |
| May | 81°F | 56°F | 4.17" |
| Jun | 87°F | 64°F | 4.60" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 4.13" |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 4.87" |
| Sep | 83°F | 62°F | 4.27" |
| Oct | 74°F | 51°F | 3.43" |
| Nov | 64°F | 41°F | 4.04" |
| Dec | 55°F | 35°F | 2.49" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Monroe
Monroe has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
15.2%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Piedmont Walton Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ridgeview Institute Monroe
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ngmc Barrow, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 14.3 mi away · Winder
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education16.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Monroe
Monroe's student/teacher ratio is 16.3:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
16.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, 36 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Monroe
Monroe has 5 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (36 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
36 mi awayMartin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
51 mi awayOcmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayNinety Six National Historic Site
National Historic Site
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Monroe
Monroe-Walton County Library
217 West Spring Street, Monroe
Cities Near Monroe
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Monroe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Monroe FAQ
Is Monroe, Georgia affordable?⌄
Monroe's median rent is $1,105/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $44,656/year. Median home value is $259,300.
Is Monroe, Georgia safe?⌄
Monroe's violent crime rate was 283 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1753 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Monroe, Georgia?⌄
Walton County, which includes Monroe, has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Monroe, Georgia?⌄
The cost of living in Monroe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,105/month and median household income is $44,656/year. The median home value is $259,300. About 55% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Monroe, Georgia?⌄
The average commute in Monroe is 32 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from