Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Monroe, LA

    Is Monroe a good place to live?

    Watch Monroe

    Monroe ranks #18 of 18 Louisiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (25/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.8% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $174,800
    +10.5% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $823
    per month
    Household income
    $36,521
    median
    Unemployment
    10.7%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Monroe

    The median home value in Monroe is $174,800 and median rent is $823 a month, against a median household income of $36,521. Homes cost about 4.8× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Monroe crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Louisiana the 2025 rate was 465 violent and 1,859 property crimes per 100,000 people — #7 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Monroe, LA

    Monroe has about 47,241 residents, 10.7% unemployment and 17% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Monroe with

    Monroe vs New OrleansMonroe vs Baton RougeMonroe vs ShreveportMonroe vs MetairieMonroe vs LafayetteMonroe vs Lake CharlesMonroe vs KennerMonroe vs Bossier City

    More: Where to move in Louisiana · Best counties in Louisiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report