Places › Louisiana › Monroe

Living in Monroe, LA

Small city in Louisiana

Monroe is a small city in Louisiana, home to about 47,000 people, with 117,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Monroe a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $161k and rents for $1,320 a month
  • Low taxes: about $1,029 state income tax per resident, 0.45% property tax
  • Low natural disaster risk: 17 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Smaller job market: about 117,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Monroe ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
47,000
117,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
59°F / 92°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$161k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,320/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
84
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,029
State income tax per resident · 0.45% property tax
Safety
4.7× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
17 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
29%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MSY
204 mi away

Living in Monroe: common questions

What is the cost of living in Monroe?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $161k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,320 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 84, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Monroe?

Louisiana collects about $1,029 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.45% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Monroe safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (4.7× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Monroe?

Monroe has mild winters: winter days average around 59°F and summer days around 92°F.

Does Monroe get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and earthquakes: 17 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.19 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Monroe?

The nearest major airport is MSY, about 204 mi away.

How Monroe scores

Each bar compares Monroe with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small town Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Quiet / rural Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Mild winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Below average
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Below average
✈️Airport Below average

Places like Monroe

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Is Monroe right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.