Cost of Living in Monroe County, Michigan
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 #2,417 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 23%)
Sourced county brief
Monroe County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach 1,146 Dollars
Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Monroe County are $1,146, which is $228 above the Michigan unweighted county mean of $918. The median gross rent for the county was estimated at $1,059 per month, a figure that is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $906. According to official ACS B25071 GRAPI data, the median gross rent as a percentage of household income is 30.3%. This official estimate differs from the state unweighted county mean of 28.9% by 1.4 percentage points. Additionally, the median home value in Monroe County is $228,900, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $197,293. The median income for renter-occupied households is $40,700. 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 30.3% 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 $1,059 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,146. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $42,360 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 Michigan unweighted mean of county median rents is $906 per month. Monroe County's $1,059 median is 16.9% above 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
16.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,804
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.8%
of gross income
The median home in Monroe County may be a stretch
Median home value is $228,900. Estimated monthly cost: $1,827 vs. your max of $1,804.
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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