Cost of Living in Monroe County, Alabama
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Monroe County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Monroe County ranks #168 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 5%)
Sourced county brief
Monroe County Median Renter-Household Income Set at $26,004
Renter-household median income in Monroe County was estimated at $26,004 during the 2020-2024 period. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 30.4%, which is 1.8 percentage points above the Alabama unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 28.6%. Median gross rent was $666 per month, falling below the state unweighted county mean of $820. For those in owner-occupied units, the median home value was $120,600 and the median selected monthly owner costs were $566. These figures compare to state unweighted county means of $159,660 for home value and $706 for monthly owner costs. The median income for all households in the county was $42,292. Data are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Monroe County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.4% of renter household income in Monroe County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $666 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $566. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $26,640 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Alabama unweighted mean of county median rents is $820 per month. Monroe County's $666 median is 18.8% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Monroe County
Rent Burden
18.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$987
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.1%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Monroe County
Median home value is $120,600. Estimated monthly cost: $963 vs. your max of $987.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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