Monroe County

Georgia · GA

#9 in Georgia
72.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Monroe County, Georgia

Monroe Ranks Among National Top Performers

Monroe County scores 73.8 on the CountyScore composite index, substantially above the national median of 50.0. This places the county in the top 47th percentile nationally, reflecting strong overall livability.

Georgia's Upper-Tier County Status

Monroe's 73.8 composite score ranks it well above Georgia's state average of 70.9, placing it among the state's highest-performing counties. The county demonstrates exceptional strength in income and tax efficiency.

Highest Income Levels and Excellent Tax Rates

Monroe leads this cohort with an income score of 37.5 backed by a median household income of $82,863—more than $30,000 above the group's lowest earner. The tax score of 83.0 reflects an effective rate of just 0.686%, the second-lowest in the group.

Higher Housing Costs and Limited Visibility

Monroe's cost score of 76.0 is the lowest in the group, with median home values of $243,200 reflecting higher housing expenses. Safety, health, school, and environmental data are not yet available, limiting full livability assessment.

Premium Choice for Affluent Professionals

Monroe suits high-earning professionals and established families who can afford premium housing in exchange for favorable tax treatment and strong income opportunities. The county attracts those seeking wealth-building conditions rather than budget optimization.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax83Cost76SafetyComing SoonHealth65.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome37.5Risk81.3WaterComing Soon
🏛83
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠76
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼37.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
65.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
81.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Monroe County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Monroe County

via TaxByCounty

Monroe taxes: Georgia's most efficient rate

Monroe County boasts Georgia's lowest effective tax rate at 0.686%, sitting well below the national median. Despite hosting the region's priciest homes, Monroe residents pay $1,669 annually—reasonable given their property values.

The state's lightest tax burden

Monroe's 0.686% effective rate is Georgia's lowest, undercutting the state average of 0.898% by more than 20%. This makes Monroe an exceptional value for homeowners seeking lower tax exposure on valuable properties.

Unmatched tax efficiency regionally

Monroe's 0.686% rate bests every surrounding county—including McIntosh (0.753%), McDuffie (0.849%), and all others. This unique tax advantage helps explain Monroe's appeal to affluent homebuyers throughout the region.

What a $243k home costs annually

The median Monroe County home valued at $243,200 carries just $1,669 in annual property taxes—an extraordinary bargain for such upscale properties. With mortgage costs included, homeowners pay $2,081 yearly, offering excellent value.

Even low rates warrant assessment checks

Monroe's tax efficiency doesn't exempt residents from overassessment—particularly if recent renovations or market shifts altered your home's value. Annual assessment reviews help ensure you're paying fairly, even in favorable tax climates.

Cost of Living in Monroe County

via CostByCounty

Monroe's higher income eases housing burden

Monroe County's 12.8% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest in this eight-county group and well below the national average, driven by a median income of $82,863—11% above the U.S. average of $74,755. This affluent position makes housing costs feel manageable despite higher absolute prices.

Exceptional affordability for Georgia

At 12.8%, Monroe's rent-to-income ratio significantly undercuts Georgia's 18.6% state average, making it the most affordable county in this cohort. Higher local incomes create the state's strongest housing affordability cushion.

Premium prices, premium incomes

Monroe's median rent of $881 ranks third-highest in the region, but the median home value of $243,200 is second-highest, reflecting a wealthier demographic. Compared to Miller County's $699 rent, Monroe costs more absolutely but strains budgets less due to higher resident incomes.

Ownership premium reflects local wealth

Renters spend $881 monthly while homeowners invest $1,084—the highest ownership cost in the group—on median properties worth $243,200. Despite these elevated numbers, the 12.8% rent-to-income ratio shows Monroe residents absorb housing costs comfortably.

Monroe for affluent relocators seeking value

If your household income exceeds $82,000 and you value premium housing in a prosperous community, Monroe delivers affordable luxury. Verify local employment opportunities match your career trajectory, as the county's affluence reflects strong economic fundamentals worth investigating.

Income & Jobs in Monroe County

via IncomeByCounty

Monroe outpaces nation on household income

Monroe County's median household income of $82,863 exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by $8,108. Residents earn approximately 111% of typical American household income, placing the county well above national norms.

Tops Georgia's state median considerably

Monroe County's median household income of $82,863 significantly exceeds Georgia's state average of $60,488 by $22,375. The county's per capita income of $43,106 also dominates the state average of $31,115, indicating strong, well-distributed earnings.

Regional income leader with Morgan County

Monroe County's $82,863 median income ranks it among the highest in the region, though Morgan County edges ahead at $85,692. Both counties dramatically outperform the lower-income rural peers like Mitchell ($51,908) and Montgomery ($51,188).

Excellent housing affordability and strong purchasing power

Monroe County's rent-to-income ratio of 12.8% is significantly below the 28% affordability threshold, indicating excellent rental affordability. The median home value of $243,200 is higher but remains accessible given strong household incomes.

Monroe County wealth-building opportunities abound

Monroe County residents enjoy strong financial flexibility to invest in retirement accounts, educational savings, and diversified investment portfolios. The county's above-average income and affordable housing position households to aggressively build wealth through strategic homeownership, stock market investing, and business ownership opportunities.

Health in Monroe County

via HealthByCounty

Monroe ranks among Georgia's healthiest counties

At 74.5 years, Monroe County's life expectancy is just 1.9 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years and the second-highest in this region. With only 19.0% reporting poor/fair health—the lowest rate among these eight counties—Monroe demonstrates strong overall population health.

Above Georgia average on every major metric

Monroe's 74.5-year life expectancy exceeds Georgia's 73.3-year average, and its 12.4% uninsured rate beats the state average of 15.0%. The county ranks in the top tier statewide for both longevity and coverage, making it a health success story within Georgia.

Among regional leaders in health outcomes

Monroe's 74.5-year life expectancy and 19.0% poor/fair health rate rank second only to Morgan (75.8 years, 15.3%) in this region. With 52 primary care providers per 100K, Monroe offers solid access to routine care, suggesting effective health maintenance systems are in place.

Strong coverage and accessible primary care

Monroe's 12.4% uninsured rate is the lowest in this cohort, and its 52 primary care providers per 100K gives residents solid access to preventive care and chronic disease management. The combination of coverage and provider capacity appears to be supporting Monroe's above-average health outcomes.

Keep momentum going with continuous coverage

Monroe's success stems in part from low uninsured rates—if you're among the 12.4% without coverage, don't wait to enroll in a Marketplace plan or Medicaid. With strong primary care access already in place, securing insurance ensures you'll benefit fully from Monroe's health resources.

Disaster Risk in Monroe County

via RiskByCounty

Monroe ranks among America's safest

Monroe County scores 18.70 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and sitting significantly below the national average. Your community experiences substantially fewer natural disaster threats than most U.S. counties.

Well below Georgia's average risk

Monroe's score of 18.70 represents less than half of Georgia's state average of 39.49, making it one of the state's safest counties. This central Georgia region enjoys notably low exposure across nearly all hazard categories.

Safest in a low-risk cluster

Monroe County (18.70) sits alongside Meriwether (19.21) and Morgan (19.37) in the region's safest tier, while nearby McDuffie (24.97) and Miller (20.80) remain comparably safe. All five counties cluster in the Very Low category.

Hurricane and wildfire risks most notable

Hurricane risk (64.25) and wildfire risk (53.37) represent your highest scores, though both remain modest in absolute terms. Tornado risk (42.08) and flood risk (31.97) complete a balanced, low-threat profile.

Standard coverage with seasonal preparation

Basic homeowners insurance provides adequate protection for Monroe's low-risk environment, with standard wind and tornado coverage sufficient for your profile. Verify flood coverage only if your property sits in a mapped floodplain; otherwise, seasonal storm preparation suffices.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.