1st Advantage Mortgage32% of Monroe County households earn $100,000 or more; the median is $65,868 (ACS 2020-24). Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Monroe County offer.
On this page
- Who lives in Monroe County
- Monroe County at the extremes
- How much Monroe County households make
- Renting and owning in Monroe County
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- The counties around Monroe County
- Monroe County communities by population
- Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
- More Monroe County figures
- A Monroe County household budget, worked through
- Before you sign
- Verifying a lender from Monroe County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Monroe County
Monroe County is home to about 140,965 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 12th most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. Its 395 square miles average 357 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro area: Bloomington, IN (OMB, 2023). Bloomington (80,049 people) heads the county's list of 5 Census places, 3 incorporated and 2 census-designated.
Monroe County at the extremes
- Homeownership: 54% in Monroe County. Only 1 of 92 Indiana counties are lower. Many renters means few borrowers have home equity to fall back on.
- Monroe County ranks 2nd highest of 92 Indiana counties for the share of renters paying 30% or more of income for rent: 61%, against 48% statewide. Make sure a consolidation loan lowers what you pay each month.
- On the share of adults with a bachelor's degree, Monroe County sits near the top of Indiana at 49%, 3rd highest of 92. More graduates often means more student debt to factor in.
- Median age: 31.2 in Monroe County. Only 1 of 92 Indiana counties are lower. Younger borrowers often have thin credit files; a co-signer or credit union may help.
How much Monroe County households make
The median household income in Monroe County is $65,868; statewide it is $71,957, so Monroe County runs 8% below Indiana as a whole. Only 58 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Band | Monroe County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | +6.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | -3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.2% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | +0.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Monroe County households make $100,000 or more, and 29% make less than $35,000. Census counts 19.7% of Monroe County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Monroe County scores 0.499 on the Gini index, where higher means more unequal incomes. 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.
Renting and owning in Monroe County
Half of Monroe County renters pay more than $1,193 a month and half pay less; the Indiana midpoint is $1,062. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 61% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $285,200, about 4.3 times the median household income. In Monroe County, 54% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Half the housing stock was built before 1986. Nationally, Monroe County's $1,193 rent is 36% above the middle county.
| Housing | Monroe County | Indiana statewide | Monroe County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 54% | 71% | -16.6 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 61% | 48% | +12.6 pts |
| Median home value | $285,200 | $218,200 | 31% higher |
| Median gross rent | $1,193/mo | $1,062/mo | 12% higher |
| Vacant units | 10% | 9% | +1.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | -0.1 pts |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment. 61% of Monroe County renters are already past the 30% line; one more payment should leave room for a late paycheck.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
Education and health care (36%), arts, lodging and food service (12%) and manufacturing (11%) lead Monroe County's job mix. Compared with Indiana, the county leans toward education and health care (36% against 23%). 5.5% of Monroe County's labor force reported being unemployed, averaged across 2020 to 2024. 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 16% work from home.
| Top industries | Monroe County share | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 36.0% | +12.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.8% | +4.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.7% | -7.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.2% | -2.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.8% | -1.5 pts |
| Public administration | 4.6% | +1.1 pts |
Self-employed in Monroe County? Two years of tax returns usually stand in for pay stubs.
The counties around Monroe County
Distances run center to center, from Brown County at 16 miles out to Jackson County at 31. Monroe County's $65,868 median trails 4 of the six and beats 2; the range runs $62,094 (Greene County) to $79,429 (Morgan County).
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $65,868 | $1,193/mo | 54% |
| Brown County, IN | 16 mi | $78,528 | $895/mo | 87% |
| Owen County, IN | 20 mi | $62,464 | $911/mo | 81% |
| Lawrence County, IN | 22 mi | $66,468 | $845/mo | 81% |
| Morgan County, IN | 23 mi | $79,429 | $1,042/mo | 82% |
| Greene County, IN | 27 mi | $62,094 | $797/mo | 77% |
| Jackson County, IN | 31 mi | $70,262 | $1,004/mo | 73% |
Monroe County communities by population
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Monroe County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 90,641 people, so roughly 36% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $90,213 at the median in Ellettsville, $50,465 in Bloomington. Median rent ranges from $855 in Ellettsville to $1,200 in Bloomington. Bloomington and every other Monroe County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | city | 80,049 | $50,465 | $1,200 | 0 mi |
| Ellettsville | town | 6,698 | $90,213 | $855 | 7 mi |
| Smithville-Sanders | CDP | 3,299 | $74,750 | $1,123 | 7 mi |
| Harrodsburg | CDP | 298 | $35,417 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Stinesville | town | 297 | $64,464 | $642 | 12 mi |
Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Monroe County loan.
- Rent squeeze. 61% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
More Monroe County figures
College graduates make up 49% of the adult population. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Monroe County | vs Indiana | vs U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 49.5% | +20.0 pts | +27.3 pts |
| Poverty rate | 19.7% | +7.3 pts | +6.5 pts |
| Median age | 31.2 | -6.9 yrs | -10.3 yrs |
| Work from home | 15.9% | +5.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 5.2% | -4.4 pts | n/a |
| No vehicle | 8.4% | +2.1 pts | +2.9 pts |
| No health insurance | 5.3% | -2.1 pts | -2.5 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.5% | +1.2 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 38.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.5% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
A Monroe County household budget, worked through
Monroe County's $65,868 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- Start: $5,489 gross per month ($65,868 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,193, which is 22% of it
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,003 left for all other debt payments
These are gross figures; take-home pay in Monroe County will be lower after taxes and deductions.
Before you sign
Quick steps for Monroe County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Monroe County.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Verifying a lender from Monroe County
The Indiana Department of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Indiana license. If a Monroe County lender ignores a dispute, the CFPB complaint portal is the federal backstop. Statewide data and rules: Indiana guide.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Monroe County?
$65,868 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $71,957 for Indiana. It ranks 59th of 92 in the state.
Can a Monroe County renter afford a loan payment?
At the $1,193 median rent and $5,489 median monthly income, rent alone uses 22%; add other debts before a new payment.
Which towns does the Monroe County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Bloomington, Ellettsville, Smithville-Sanders, Harrodsburg, Stinesville.
Is the fit check different in Monroe County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Monroe County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Indiana it is the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.