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Monroe County, Alabama Demographics 2026

Monroe County, Alabama has a population of 19,388, the 46th most populous county in Alabama. The median household income is $42,292 and the median home value is $120,600. The poverty rate is 20.1%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Monroe County Quick Facts

Population 19,388
Median Household Income $42,292
Median Home Value $120,600
Poverty Rate 20.1%
Unemployment Rate 10.4%
Median Age 44.2 years
Homeownership Rate 71.7%
Affordability Ratio 2.9x
Bachelor's Degree+ 11.7%
High School Graduation 84.1%
Cities/Places 8
Population 19,388 46th of 67
Median Income $42,292 34% lower than state
Poverty Rate 20.1%
Unemployment 10.4%

How Monroe County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population19,58019,388-1.0%
Median household income$40,225$42,292+5.1%
Median home value$114,900$120,600+5.0%

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 30.0%
$25K-$50K 25.1%
$50K-$100K 26.5%
$100K+ 18.5%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
10.0%
$10K-$15K
7.7%
$15K-$20K
3.5%
$20K-$25K
8.7%
$25K-$30K
6.0%
$30K-$35K
5.8%
$35K-$40K
6.6%
$40K-$45K
3.1%
$45K-$50K
3.5%
$50K-$60K
8.0%
$60K-$75K
8.1%
$75K-$100K
10.3%
$100K-$125K
7.8%
$125K-$150K
4.1%
$150K-$200K
4.9%
$200K+
1.7%

Employment

10.4% Unemployment Rate State: 4.7%|National: 5.2%
45.6% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 71.7%
Renter 28.3%
Affordability Index Very Affordable
2.9x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $666/mo 18.9% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

54out of 100
Moderate Diversity

Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.

State average: 53 | National average: 61

Education

Cities & Places in Monroe County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Monroeville5,802$32,51328.8%$122,900
Frisco City1,416$36,02326.8%$84,800
Excel524$57,37527.5%$153,600
Uriah199$126,5639.0%N/A
Beatrice182$37,2927.1%$80,800
Vredenburgh65$35,75029.2%N/A
Megargel46N/A19.6%N/A
Peterman19N/A0.0%N/A

Population Overview

Monroe County is located in Alabama with a total population of 19,388. It is the 46th most populous county out of 67 in Alabama. The county encompasses 8 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe County is 44.2 years. This is 12% higher than the state median of 39.3 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe County is $42,292. This is 34% lower than the state median of $63,999. It is also 48% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.1%. This is 29% higher than the state poverty rate of 15.6%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 10.4%. This is 121% higher than the state rate of 4.7%. The median home value is $120,600. Housing costs are 43% lower than the state median of $209,900. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Monroe County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 71.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 70.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Monroe County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.6% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 41.9%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (41.9% vs 25.6%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 5.6%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 1.4%.

Education

11.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 59% lower than the state rate of 28.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 84.1%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Monroe County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, with comparisons drawn against Alabama and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Monroe County, Alabama?

Monroe County has a population of 19,388, making it the 46th most populous county in Alabama.

What is the median income in Monroe County?

The median household income in Monroe County is $42,292 with a poverty rate of 20.1%.

How many cities are in Monroe County, Alabama?

Monroe County contains 8 Census-designated places.