1st Advantage MortgageIn Monroe County, Missouri, the typical household earns $54,516 a year and the typical rent is $689. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Missouri license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Monroe County
- Jobs and commutes in Monroe County
- What Monroe County households earn
- What it costs to live in Monroe County
- Monroe County and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Monroe County
- Room for a loan payment in Monroe County
- Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
- Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Missouri rules that apply in Monroe County
- Four steps for Monroe County borrowers
- More guides for Monroe County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Monroe County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Monroe County's population at 8,734; only 91 of Missouri's 115 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 648 square miles, that works out to roughly 13.5 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Monroe County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 7 Census places inside Monroe County, Paris leads by population with about 1,587; 6 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Monroe County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Jobs and commutes in Monroe County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 2% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 1.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Monroe County share | +/- vs Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.7% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 15.1% | +3.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.3% | +3.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.3% | +6.7 pts |
| Construction | 6.6% | -0.2 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Monroe County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What Monroe County households earn
At $54,516, the typical Monroe County household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Band | Monroe County | Compared with Missouri |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.2% | +8.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.1% | +0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -4.4 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Monroe County households make $100,000 or more, and 32% make less than $35,000. 14.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.6%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.441 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Monroe County median.
What it costs to live in Monroe County
Renters in Monroe County pay a median of $689 a month, 33% below the Missouri figure of $1,033. 31% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 11% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $149,300, about 2.7 times the median household income. Owners occupy 74% of homes. Median construction year: 1976.
| Monroe County | Missouri | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $689/mo | $1,033/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $149,300 | $230,300 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 74% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 31% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 22% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 22% | 11% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Monroe County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Monroe County and the counties next door
Six nearby counties, 21 to 37 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Ralls County leads the group on income ($65,388), Shelby County trails ($51,594), and Monroe County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $54,516 | $689/mo | 74% |
| Shelby County, MO | 21 mi | $51,594 | $625/mo | 77% |
| Audrain County, MO | 21 mi | $59,448 | $693/mo | 72% |
| Ralls County, MO | 26 mi | $65,388 | $749/mo | 86% |
| Randolph County, MO | 26 mi | $53,033 | $760/mo | 71% |
| Marion County, MO | 29 mi | $62,903 | $808/mo | 69% |
| Macon County, MO | 37 mi | $62,357 | $672/mo | 77% |
The communities that make up Monroe County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 26% of Monroe County residents live in one of the 7. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | city | 1,587 | $63,487 | $752 | 2 mi |
| Madison | city | 446 | $44,583 | $713 | 11 mi |
| Holliday | village | 144 | $46,250 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Middle Grove | CDP | 40 | $55,357 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Stoutsville | village | 20 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Florida | village | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Goss | town | 0 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Room for a loan payment in Monroe County
Here is the Monroe County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,543 a month: gross income for a household at the Monroe County median
- 15% goes to median rent ($689)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $946 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Borrowing situations common in Monroe County
What the Monroe County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Uninsured care. 11% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 18% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Retirees. At a median age of 45.7, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Monroe County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 19% of the adult population. 10.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Monroe County | Missouri | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.7 | 39.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.9% | 32.4% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.0% | 8.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.6% | 8.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 13.0% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 4.0% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Monroe County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.6% |
Missouri rules that apply in Monroe County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Monroe County resident can confirm its license with the Missouri Division of Finance. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Missouri guide.
Four steps for Monroe County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Monroe County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
More guides for Monroe County
For statewide rules and data, see the Missouri guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monroe County a high-income county?
Its $54,516 median ranks 81st of 115 Missouri counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Monroe County?
$689 a month at the median, about 15% of median household income.
Should Monroe County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 74% of Monroe County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Paris?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Monroe County, such as Madison, Holliday, Middle Grove.
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.