Monroe County, Missouri Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Monroe County is located in Missouri with a total population of 8,672. It is the 93rd most populous county out of 115 in Missouri. The county encompasses 5 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Monroe County is 45.8 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 38.9 years. 10.7% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Monroe County is $48,299. This is 30% lower than the state median of $68,920. It is also 39% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 16.0%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 1.6%. This is 62% lower than the state rate of 4.1%. The median home value is $147,400. Housing costs are 32% lower than the state median of $215,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 75.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 10% higher than the state average of 67.9%.

Race & Ethnicity

Monroe County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.9% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 4.0%. The Black or African American population (4.0%) is well below the state average of 11.0%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.7%) is well below the state average of 5.1%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 2.1%.

Education

17.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 46% lower than the state rate of 31.9%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Monroe County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Missouri 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.