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Living in
West Monroe.
About
Life in West Monroe
West Monroe is a community of 12,837 people in Louisiana. The median household income is $49,386, median rent runs about $826 per month, and median home values are around $192,400. The unemployment rate is 4.5%.
West Monroe at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
26.3%
Foreign-Born
4.9%
Broadband Internet
79.4%
of households
Population Growth
-4.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics4.9% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in West Monroe: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In West Monroe, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (71.4%), and 6.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
26.4%
of residents
65 and Older
17.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.8%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.9%
of households
Married Couples
32.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 22% below LA average
Rent, home values, and income in West Monroe
In West Monroe, rent runs 22% below the LA average, and home values are 11% below the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
41.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
83.6
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$626
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
44.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1974
median year built
Vacant Homes
16.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $201,762 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for LA
Unemployment in West Monroe
Unemployment in Ouachita Parish, which includes West Monroe, is close to the LA average.
Unemployment rate
West Monroe: Ouachita Parish rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Ouachita Parish (county-wide) · Annual averages
What West Monroe Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.8 min avg
How West Monroe residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In West Monroe, most residents drive alone to work (82%), and 83% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Monroe Regional Airport (MLU)
Regional airport · few flights116k 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 225% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in West Monroe runs 225% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,070
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
5,390.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
West Monroe Police Department
Natural DisastersHeat most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Ouachita County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Ouachita Parish, which includes West Monroe, the most common type is heat, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $35,000 |
| 2024 | 22 | Heat | None reported |
| 2023 | 29 | Heat | None reported |
| 2022 | 28 | Heat | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 21 | Heat | None reported |
| 2020 | 17 | Heat | $250.8M |
| 2019 | 21 | Heat | $3,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Thunderstorm Wind | $165,000 |
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.
24 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Ouachita Parish, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Ouachita Parish, which includes West Monroe, is typically good — 227 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
227
per year
Moderate Days
138
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Ouachita Parish, county-wide
Climate92°F summers, 39°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
West Monroe has hot summers (avg high 92°F) and mild winters (avg low 39°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
77°/55°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
92°/71°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
78°/54°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
59°/39°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
55.6"
Annual Snowfall
0.1"
Hot Days/Year
97
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
33
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
87
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 37°F | 5.15" |
| Feb | 61°F | 40°F | 4.65" |
| Mar | 69°F | 47°F | 5.21" |
| Apr | 77°F | 54°F | 5.83" |
| May | 84°F | 63°F | 4.43" |
| Jun | 91°F | 70°F | 4.45" |
| Jul | 93°F | 73°F | 3.94" |
| Aug | 94°F | 71°F | 3.56" |
| Sep | 89°F | 66°F | 3.55" |
| Oct | 79°F | 54°F | 4.95" |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 4.16" |
| Dec | 59°F | 39°F | 5.22" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 2.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in West Monroe
West Monroe has 1 hospital, averaging 2.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
11.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.0 / 5
Glenwood Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Fmol Health St Francis
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.3 mi away · Monroe
Monroe Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.3 mi away · Monroe
Ochsner Lsu Health Monroe
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.9 mi away · Monroe
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.
Education16.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in West Monroe
West Monroe's student/teacher ratio is 16.6:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 22.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.0%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near West Monroe (within 15 miles)
University of Louisiana at Monroe
4.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 5,022 students · in-state tuition $9,556 · 54% graduate · median earnings $49,742 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Poverty Point National Monument, 44 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for West Monroe
West Monroe has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Poverty Point National Monument (44 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Poverty Point National Monument
National Monument
44 mi awayCane River Creole National Historical Park
National Historical Park
77 mi awayVicksburg National Military Park
National Military Park
77 mi awayNatchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
80 mi awayPublic Libraries in West Monroe
Ouachita Valley Branch
601 Mcmillan Road, West Monroe
West Monroe Branch
315 Cypress Street, West Monroe
Cities Near West Monroe
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to West Monroe?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
West Monroe FAQ
Is West Monroe, Louisiana affordable?⌄
West Monroe's median rent is $826/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,386/year. Median home value is $192,400.
Is West Monroe, Louisiana safe?⌄
West Monroe's violent crime rate was 1070 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 5391 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in West Monroe, Louisiana?⌄
Ouachita Parish, which includes West Monroe, has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in West Monroe, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in West Monroe is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $826/month and median household income is $49,386/year. The median home value is $192,400. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in West Monroe, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in West Monroe is 20 minutes, which is shorter 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