1st Advantage MortgageIn Monroe County, Mississippi, the typical household earns $51,866 a year and the typical rent is $768. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Monroe County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Monroe County
- How Monroe County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Monroe County
- Monroe County next to its neighbors
- Debt-to-income at Monroe County's medians
- Monroe County households compared
- Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
- Steps before you apply in Monroe County
- Lender oversight for Monroe County
- More guides for Monroe County
- Frequently asked questions
Monroe County at a glance
Monroe County is home to about 33,747 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 82 county-level areas in Mississippi. Land area is 765 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 44 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (5 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Amory, with about 6,500 residents, or 19% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in Monroe County
At $51,866, the typical Monroe County household income is 21% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 30 Mississippi counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Monroe County | Gap to Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.4% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.9% | -1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.0% | -0.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.7% | -2.1 pts |
Some 36% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 24% have six-figure incomes. 18.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). 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.
How Monroe County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Monroe County residents work in manufacturing and 23% in education and health care. Compared with Mississippi, the county leans toward manufacturing (25% against 13%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 84% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Monroe County workers | vs Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 24.9% | +11.9 pts |
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -2.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.2% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 6.5% | -0.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Rent, home values and ownership in Monroe County
Renters in Monroe County pay a median of $768 a month, 19% below the Mississippi figure of $954. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. With a median value of $120,800, a typical Monroe County house costs 2.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 76%. The median year built is 1982.
| Measure | Monroe County | Mississippi | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $768/mo | $954/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $120,800 | $169,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 70% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 51% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 26% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 15% | 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. When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Cities, towns and CDPs in Monroe County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Monroe County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 13,468 people, so roughly 60% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $33,285 in Aberdeen to $63,523 in Hatley. Median rent ranges from $727 in Aberdeen to $834 in Amory. No Monroe County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 7.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amory | city | 6,500 | $52,901 | $834 | 6 mi |
| Aberdeen | city | 4,890 | $33,285 | $727 | 6 mi |
| Hatley | town | 586 | $63,523 | $775 | 7 mi |
| Smithville | town | 559 | $43,603 | $752 | 13 mi |
| New Hamilton | CDP | 480 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Hamilton | CDP | 320 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Gattman | village | 133 | $66,087 | n/a | 14 mi |
Monroe County next to its neighbors
Distances run center to center, from Clay County at 23 miles out to Lee County at 30. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Monroe County; Lee County is highest at $67,863 and Clay County lowest at $43,125. The list crosses into Alabama, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | - | $51,866 | $768/mo | 76% |
| Clay County, MS | 23 mi | $43,125 | $817/mo | 71% |
| Lamar County, AL | 24 mi | $50,000 | $549/mo | 76% |
| Chickasaw County, MS | 27 mi | $43,586 | $670/mo | 70% |
| Itawamba County, MS | 28 mi | $55,546 | $811/mo | 79% |
| Lowndes County, MS | 29 mi | $53,812 | $930/mo | 61% |
| Lee County, MS | 30 mi | $67,863 | $957/mo | 71% |
Debt-to-income at Monroe County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Monroe County's medians:
- Start: $4,322 gross per month ($51,866 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $768 uses 18%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $745 left for all other debt payments
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,177 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Monroe County households compared
College graduates make up 16% of the adult population. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Monroe County | Mississippi | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.7 | 38.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.4% | 25.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.5% | 12.9% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.8% | 11.0% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 6.3% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 5.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Monroe County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 35.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 6.1% |
| 60+ min | 6.4% |
Reading the Monroe County data as a borrower
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Monroe County borrowers.
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Monroe County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 18% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of Monroe County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Steps before you apply in Monroe County
A short checklist for Monroe County borrowers:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- A Mississippi license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Lender oversight for Monroe County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Monroe County borrowers answers to the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Mississippi guide.
More guides for Monroe County
The Mississippi guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Monroe County earn?
The median is $51,866; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 36% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in Monroe County?
$768 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
Should Monroe County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% 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 Amory?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Monroe County, such as Aberdeen, Hatley, Smithville.
Will a Monroe County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Mississippi as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.