1st Advantage MortgageIn Monroe County, Michigan, the typical household earns $77,335 a year and the typical rent is $1,059. 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 by the numbers
- Renting and owning in Monroe County
- Income in Monroe County compared with Michigan
- Jobs and commutes in Monroe County
- Monroe County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Monroe County
- What a median Monroe County budget can carry
- People and households in Monroe County
- Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
- Four steps for Monroe County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Michigan
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Monroe County by the numbers
Monroe County is home to about 155,505 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 83 county-level areas in Michigan. It covers 549 square miles of land, or about 283 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Monroe, MI metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 16 places in the county (8 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Monroe, with about 20,320 residents, or 13% of the county.
Renting and owning in Monroe County
A typical Monroe County rental runs $1,059 a month including utilities, which is 6% below Michigan. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 51% of renter households here. With a median value of $228,900, a typical Monroe County house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. 82% of Monroe County households own their home and 18% rent. Median construction year: 1974.
| Home costs | Monroe County | Michigan | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,059/mo | $1,129/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $228,900 | $231,600 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 73% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 50% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 23% | 23% | n/a |
Because most Monroe County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in Monroe County compared with Michigan
Monroe County households have a median income of $77,335 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 15th of 83 in Michigan.
| Income band | Share in Monroe County | Difference from Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | -2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | +0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.2% | +3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.4% | -1.2 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 38% have six-figure incomes. Census counts 10.5% of Monroe County residents in poverty, against 13.2% across Michigan. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.423 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Monroe County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Monroe County
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Monroe County residents work in education and health care and 20% in manufacturing. Construction stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 16% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 4.7% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Monroe County share | +/- vs Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 19.9% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | -0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.7 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.5% | -1.0 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Monroe County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 16 to 39 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Washtenaw County leads the group on income ($89,180), Wayne County trails ($60,539), and Monroe County out-earns 5 of the six. The list crosses into Ohio, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $77,335 | $1,059/mo | 82% |
| Lucas County, OH | 16 mi | $62,224 | $934/mo | 62% |
| Wayne County, MI | 28 mi | $60,539 | $1,132/mo | 65% |
| Washtenaw County, MI | 30 mi | $89,180 | $1,463/mo | 62% |
| Lenawee County, MI | 30 mi | $70,518 | $987/mo | 80% |
| Ottawa County, OH | 35 mi | $76,101 | $930/mo | 84% |
| Wood County, OH | 39 mi | $74,216 | $972/mo | 64% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Monroe County
The table lists the 14 largest of 16 Census places in Monroe County, by population. Together all 16 hold about 70,117 people, so roughly 55% of residents live outside any named place. Ida has the highest median household income on the list ($125,979) and West Monroe the lowest ($48,317), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $395 in Luna Pier to $1,350 in South Rockwood. Live in one of these Monroe County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | city | 20,320 | $59,813 | $909 | 5 mi |
| Lambertville | CDP | 9,955 | $102,521 | $1,248 | 14 mi |
| Temperance | CDP | 8,914 | $81,503 | $1,321 | 11 mi |
| South Monroe | CDP | 6,960 | $61,982 | $987 | 4 mi |
| Dundee | village | 5,744 | $78,837 | $1,242 | 10 mi |
| Detroit Beach | CDP | 2,771 | $76,524 | n/a | 8 mi |
| West Monroe | CDP | 2,711 | $48,317 | $850 | 3 mi |
| Carleton | village | 2,595 | $73,365 | $944 | 11 mi |
| South Rockwood | village | 1,924 | $78,203 | $1,350 | 15 mi |
| Woodland Beach | CDP | 1,919 | $73,750 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Stony Point | CDP | 1,825 | $53,872 | $985 | 11 mi |
| Luna Pier | city | 1,244 | $61,641 | $395 | 8 mi |
| Petersburg | city | 1,179 | $83,235 | $1,012 | 12 mi |
| Ida | CDP | 1,050 | $125,979 | n/a | 4 mi |
What a median Monroe County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Monroe County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $6,445 a month: gross income for a household at the Monroe County median
- Less median rent of $1,059, which is 16% of it
- Under a 43% cap, $2,771 total minus rent leaves $1,712
If your rent is above $1,059, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
People and households in Monroe County
23% of Monroe County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 3.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Monroe County | Michigan statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 40.2 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.3% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.1% | 7.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 3.4% | 4.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.7% | 7.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.8% | 13.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.5% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
Where the Monroe County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Monroe County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Four steps for Monroe County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Monroe County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Monroe County.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Monroe County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Michigan
Before sharing details with a lender, a Monroe County resident can confirm its license with the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Michigan: Michigan personal loans.
Related local guides
The Michigan guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Monroe County earn?
The median is $77,335; 38% earn $100,000 or more and 20% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Monroe County rent compare with Michigan?
$1,059 locally versus $1,129 for the state, 6% below.
I own my home in Monroe County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
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 Monroe, Lambertville, Temperance, South Monroe, Dundee and 11 more.
Will a Monroe County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Michigan as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.