Population 4,089 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Monroe
Household size in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.40 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.56 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.41 | 2.55 | 2.43 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.36 | 2.52 | 2.43 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Monroe are small: just 2.36 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.2 | 36.2 | 38.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 39.2 | 36.7 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 39.6 | 37.2 | 39.7 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 39.3 | 37.6 | 39.8 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.9 | +1.4 | +1.0 | +2.3 |
Half of the people in Monroe are younger than 39.3 and half are older, close to the national median of 40.1. The population here is older than in the Des Moines area overall, where the median age is 37.6.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.3% | 10.2% | 9.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.5% | 11.1% | 9.9% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 10.9% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.7% | 11.2% | 10.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | +0.9 pts | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Monroe as they are nationally: 11.7%, against 11.6%. The single-parent share has fallen 1.6 points since 2006–10, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Monroe
Renters in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 27.3% | 26.8% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 29.3% | 28.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.3% | 30.3% | 28.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.7% | 30.5% | 28.3% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | +3.2 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 17.7% of households in Monroe rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 40.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 7.7% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.7% | 7.2% | 8.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.7% | 7.0% | 8.8% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −0.7 pts | +0.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.7% of homes in Monroe are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1976 | 1965 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1969 | 1977 | 1967 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1969 | 1979 | 1969 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1967 | 1983 | 1971 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +7 | +6 | +6 |
Monroe is a place of older homes: half were built before 1967, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $507 | $808 | $669 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $667 | $899 | $732 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $607 | $986 | $821 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $822 | $1,210 | $1,020 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$315 | +$402 | +$351 | +$606 |
The median renter in Monroe pays $822 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. The typical renter here spends 23.5% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Monroe
Bachelor's degrees in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.6% | 33.6% | 26.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.4% | 35.5% | 27.9% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.9% | 37.1% | 29.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.9% | 40.3% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +3.3 pts | +6.6 pts | +5.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Monroe: 15.9% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 91.9% | 90.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.4% | 92.8% | 91.4% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.8% | 92.7% | 92.1% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 92.9% | 93.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.5 pts | +1.0 pts | +2.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Monroe is a bit above the national rate: 92.4% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The picture is much the same across the Des Moines area.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Monroe
| Period | Monroe | Des Moines area | Iowa | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 4.8% | 5.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.8% | 3.8% | 3.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 21.6% | 4.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | +17.3 pts | −0.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Finding work has been harder in Monroe: 21.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well above the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Monroe compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | 2.36 | 39.3 | 11.7% | 17.7% | 4.7% | 1967 | $822 | 15.9% | 92.4% | 21.6% |
| Reasnor | 2.87 | 41.4 | 4.7% | 21.2% | 2.2% | 1969 | $977 | 20.1% | 95.6% | 9.6% |
| Prairie City | 2.55 | 37.8 | 11.4% | 18.9% | 4.9% | 1974 | $806 | 28.4% | 97.7% | 7.5% |
| Killduff | 2.84 | 40.7 | 4.0% | 23.1% | 2.0% | 1964 | $1,000 | 16.9% | 95.5% | 9.2% |
| Otley | 2.58 | 42.0 | 8.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 1994 | $782 | 33.0% | 94.4% | 0.5% |
| Lambs Grove | 2.17 | 50.2 | 1.4% | 21.4% | 7.3% | 1961 | $879 | 8.4% | 96.8% | 4.5% |
| Newton | 2.32 | 43.5 | 10.5% | 35.5% | 11.3% | 1962 | $850 | 19.7% | 93.5% | 5.2% |
| Vandalia | 2.42 | 39.9 | 7.7% | 10.5% | 1.4% | 1980 | $796 | 30.7% | 98.4% | 8.2% |
| Colfax | 2.53 | 36.1 | 15.7% | 25.1% | 9.3% | 1961 | $810 | 21.3% | 95.5% | 4.3% |
| Goddard | 2.70 | 50.0 | 8.8% | 8.5% | 13.2% | 1991 | $968 | 19.8% | 98.9% | 1.5% |
| Sully | 2.50 | 40.5 | 1.8% | 18.9% | 2.7% | 1959 | $877 | 20.1% | 97.9% | 2.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Fall Creek, WI · Central Gardens, TX · Centre Hall, PA · Farley, KY · Centreville, IL · Kirbyville, TX · Chandler, OK · Falmouth, KY · Chariton, IA · Falls City, NE
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Monroe. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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