The Town FilesMonroe, Louisiana
City in Ouachita Parish · population 47,702 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $198,900
- Household income
- $40,505
- Jan low / Jul high
- 37° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 35.0
Monroe is a city of 47,702 people in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $198,900, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better transit than 99% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 92% of Louisiana towns, more vibrant than 91% of Louisiana towns.
How Monroe ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Monroe is worth $198,900, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 4.9 times the median household income of $40,505, which is more affordable than 5% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $886 a month. 47.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Monroe | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $198,900 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $886 | $887 |
| Median household income | $40,505 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Monroe
| People | Monroe | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32.4% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 5.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 7.5% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 18.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 84.6% |
Weather in Monroe
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.7°F. About 55.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.6 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 97 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 33 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 1, 1983 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 12, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 100 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on May 4, 1989.
Severe weather in Ouachita Parish since 1996
Ouachita Parish has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish had 69,384 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,059 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Monroe itself the ACS puts it at 10.2%.
Public schools in Monroe
34 public schools with 15,226 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish High School | 8-12 | 1,190 | 15.9 |
| Neville High School | 9-12 | 1,107 | 15.4 |
| Wossman High School | 9-12 | 666 | 13.6 |
| Carroll High School | 9-12 | 627 | 13.3 |
| Sallie Humble Elementary School | 3-6 | 600 | 12.5 |
| Lexington Elementary School | PK-2 | 575 | 14.0 |
| Jack Hayes Elementary School | PK-5 | 565 | 16.1 |
| Lakeshore School | PK-5 | 563 | 16.1 |
| Sterlington High School | 9-12 | 557 | 15.5 |
| East Ouachita Middle School | 6-8 | 516 | 14.3 |
| Cypress Point Elementary School | PK-6 | 480 | 14.1 |
| J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School | PK-6 | 476 | 12.5 |
Towns near Monroe
- West Monroe, LA4.3 mi · 13,103 people · home $192,400
- Richwood, LA4.9 mi · 3,881 people · home $53,000
- Brownsville, LA5.4 mi · 4,353 people · home $74,700
- Bawcomville, LA6.6 mi · 3,472 people · home $61,500
- Swartz, LA6.8 mi · 4,354 people · home $199,800
- Claiborne, LA7.1 mi · 12,631 people · home $219,200
- Rayville, LA18.9 mi · 3,347 people · home $99,100
- Bastrop, LA20.2 mi · 9,691 people · home $87,800
Monroe questions
Is Monroe, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Monroe scores better for retirees than 16% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 5%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Monroe?
The median owner-occupied home in Monroe is valued at $198,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,505, so homes cost about 4.9 times income. Median rent is $886 a month.
What is the weather like in Monroe?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 36.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.6 inches of snow.
Does Monroe get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Monroe since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 1, 1983. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)