Cost of Living in Monroe County, Missouri
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 #206 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 7%)
Sourced county brief
Monroe County Median Monthly Owner Costs Estimated at $564
Median selected monthly owner costs in Monroe County are $564 for all owner-occupied units, which is $239 below the Missouri state unweighted county mean of $803. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 23.2%, which is 2.7 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 25.9%. The median gross rent is $689, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $783. For owners, the median home value is $149,300, which is $26,412 below the state unweighted county mean of $175,712. The median household income for renters was estimated at $39,929. This report uses statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates including tables B25064, B25071, B25077, B25088, and B25119. Data version acs5-2020-2024 and methodologyVersion cost-brief-v1 were last reviewed at 2026-07-10. 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 23.2% of renter household income in Monroe County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $689 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $564. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,560 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 Missouri unweighted mean of county median rents is $783 per month. Monroe County's $689 median is 12.0% 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
15.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,272
per month
Owner Cost Burden
12.4%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Monroe County
Median home value is $149,300. Estimated monthly cost: $1,192 vs. your max of $1,272.
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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