Monroe County, Iowa Demographics 2026

Name: Monroe County, Iowa Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Monroe County, Iowa has a population of 7,513, the 87th most populous county in Iowa. The median household income is $70,996 and the median home value is $156,300. The poverty rate is 9.2%.

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

Monroe County Quick Facts

Population 7,513

Median Household Income $70,996

Median Home Value $156,300

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment Rate 3.1%

Median Age 41.8 years

Homeownership Rate 81.3%

Affordability Ratio 2.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.3%

High School Graduation 95.4%

Cities/Places 3

Population 7,513 87th of 99

Median Income $70,996 5% lower than state

Poverty Rate 9.2%

Unemployment 3.1%

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.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	7,546	7,513	-0.4%
Median household income	$72,518	$70,996	-2.1%
Median home value	$135,900	$156,300	+15.0%

Median Household Income

Monroe

$70,996

$75,059

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Monroe

$156,300

$208,000

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 14.7%

$25K-$50K 18.8%

$50K-$100K 34.7%

$100K+ 31.8%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

3.2%

$10K-$15K

4.1%

$15K-$20K

3.0%

$20K-$25K

4.4%

$25K-$30K

3.9%

$30K-$35K

2.9%

$35K-$40K

5.1%

$40K-$45K

2.9%

$45K-$50K

4.0%

$50K-$60K

6.7%

$60K-$75K

13.5%

$75K-$100K

14.5%

$100K-$125K

11.7%

$125K-$150K

6.1%

$150K-$200K

10.9%

$200K+

3.1%

Employment

3.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

61.4% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%

Renter 18.7%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $798/mo 13.5% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

23.0%

18-34

18.0%

35-54

23.7%

55-74

26.5%

75+

8.8%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 31 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Monroe County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Albia	3,663	$70,455	14.6%	$130,300
Lovilia	414	$58,750	12.6%	$98,400
Melrose	115	$56,250	28.7%	$75,000

Explore Iowa Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Monroe County is located in Iowa with a total population of 7,513. It is the 87th most populous county out of 99 in Iowa. The county encompasses 3 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe County is 41.8 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 38.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe County is $70,996. This is 5% lower than the state median of $75,059. It is also 12% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.2%. This is 17% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.1%. The unemployment rate is 3.1%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $156,300. Housing costs are 25% lower than the state median of $208,000. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Monroe County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 13% higher than the state average of 71.7%.

Race & Ethnicity

Monroe County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 94.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.1%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.1%) is well below the state average of 7.3%. The Asian population (0.5%) is well below the state average of 2.5%.

Education

21.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 31.4%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 95.4%.

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 Iowa 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, Iowa?

Monroe County has a population of 7,513, making it the 87th most populous county in Iowa.

What is the median income in Monroe County?

The median household income in Monroe County is $70,996 with a poverty rate of 9.2%.

How many cities are in Monroe County, Iowa?

Monroe County contains 3 Census-designated places.