Monroe County, Indiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Monroe County is located in Indiana with a total population of 139,822. It is the 12th most populous county out of 92 in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe County is 31.4 years. This is 17% lower than the state median of 38.0 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe County is $63,372. This is 10% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 19% lower. The poverty rate stands at 20.2%. This is 65% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. 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 5.5%. This is 28% higher than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $261,700. Housing costs are 30% higher than the state median of $201,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 54.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 22% lower than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Monroe County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 81.6% of the population. Asian residents account for 6.6%. The Black or African American population (3.5%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.6% vs 2.5%).

Education

49.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Monroe County in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 71% higher than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.8%. Notably, 25.5% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.