1st Advantage MortgageAbout 84% of Monroe County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $83,183. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Monroe County in brief
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- What stands out in Monroe County
- Income in Monroe County compared with Georgia
- The Monroe County housing market in figures
- Census places in Monroe County
- Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
- Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
- Room for a loan payment in Monroe County
- Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for Monroe County residents
- Before you sign
- Other Georgia guides
- Frequently asked questions
Monroe County in brief
With an estimated 29,664 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Monroe County ranks 63rd of 159 in Georgia for population. Its 396 square miles average 75 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro area: Macon-Bibb County, GA (OMB, 2023). Of the 5 Census places inside Monroe County, Forsyth leads by population with about 4,642; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed Monroe County residents work in education and health care and 12% in arts, lodging and food service. Monroe County over-indexes on public administration: 9% versus 5% in Georgia. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 13% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Top industries | Monroe County share | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.8% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 9.2% | +4.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | -1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.5% | -5.0 pts |
Self-employed in Monroe County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
What stands out in Monroe County
Out of every Georgia county, Monroe County is most unusual on these measures.
- On the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent, Monroe County sits near the bottom of Georgia at 29%, 8th lowest of 159. Rents are manageable for most, which can leave space for savings.
- Few Georgia counties match Monroe County on homeownership: 84% here, 66% for the state, ranking 9th highest of 159. Most households here own, so home equity is often an alternative to weigh.
- The ACS unemployment rate: 2.7% in Monroe County. Only 13 of 159 Georgia counties are lower. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
Income in Monroe County compared with Georgia
The median household income in Monroe County is $83,183; statewide it is $77,353, so Monroe County runs 8% above Georgia as a whole. In the state ranking that is 20th of 159.
| Households earning | Monroe County | +/- vs Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 16.9% | -5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.7% | +2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | +2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 12.5% | +0.6 pts |
Six-figure households (41%) outnumber those under $35,000 (17%) in Monroe County. 12.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 13.4%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.469 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Monroe County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
The Monroe County housing market in figures
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $943 in Monroe County versus $1,393 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 29% of renter households here. With a median value of $271,200, a typical Monroe County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Homeowners 84%, renters 16%. Half the housing stock was built before 1995. Nationally, Monroe County's $943 rent is 8% above the middle county.
| Housing | Monroe County | Georgia statewide | Monroe County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 52% | -23.9 pts |
| Owners | 84% | 66% | +18.1 pts |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 26% | -4.5 pts |
| Median gross rent | $943/mo | $1,393/mo | 32% lower |
| Median home value | $271,200 | $303,300 | 11% lower |
Monroe County owners: get one secured and one unsecured quote, then compare the total cost and what you would put up as collateral (side by side).
Census places in Monroe County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 19% of Monroe County residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth | city | 4,642 | $73,250 | $925 | 2 mi |
| Culloden | city | 428 | $121,000 | $938 | 15 mi |
| Bolingbroke | CDP | 426 | $126,597 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Juliette | CDP | 128 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Smarr | CDP | 58 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Nearby counties: income, rent, ownership
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Monroe County's, from 14 to 23 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Monroe County; Jones County is highest at $75,500 and Bibb County lowest at $51,234.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $83,183 | $943/mo | 84% |
| Lamar County, GA | 14 mi | $67,062 | $878/mo | 76% |
| Butts County, GA | 19 mi | $69,241 | $941/mo | 74% |
| Bibb County, GA | 20 mi | $51,234 | $1,066/mo | 51% |
| Jones County, GA | 21 mi | $75,500 | $964/mo | 84% |
| Crawford County, GA | 22 mi | $67,116 | $914/mo | 81% |
| Upson County, GA | 23 mi | $55,429 | $849/mo | 61% |
Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
What the Monroe County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Manufactured housing (16%). Monroe County owners should get two written repair quotes before borrowing.
- 41% at $100,000+. Good credit gets more offers in Monroe County; use that to compare, not to borrow more.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Room for a loan payment in Monroe County
Monroe County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $6,932 a month: gross income for a household at the Monroe County median
- Less median rent of $943, which is 14% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,552 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $2,038 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Homeowners in Monroe County should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Bachelor's degree or higher: 27% of Monroe County adults. The uninsured rate is 9.4%, against 12.4% for Georgia.
| Monroe County | vs Georgia | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | +4.2 yrs | +0.3 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.0% | -8.0 pts | +4.8 pts |
| No high school diploma | 8.9% | -1.9 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.4% | -2.9 pts | +1.6 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.6% | -2.3 pts | -1.8 pts |
| Work from home | 5.8% | -10.1 pts | -2.9 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | -1.1 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | -2.4 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 40.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.8% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Who licenses lenders for Monroe County residents
Before sharing details with a lender, a Monroe County resident can confirm its license with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Georgia guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Monroe County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Georgia license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask a Monroe County credit union about member loans.
Other Georgia guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Monroe County a high-income county?
Its $83,183 median ranks 20th of 159 Georgia counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What is the median rent in Monroe County, GA?
$943 a month, utilities included, or $11,316 a year.
I live in a small Monroe County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Forsyth, Culloden, Bolingbroke, Juliette, Smarr.
Are Monroe County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
What agency protects Monroe County borrowers?
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance at the state level and the CFPB federally.