CountyScore

Monroe County

Mississippi · MS

#46 in Mississippi
67.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Monroe County, Mississippi

Monroe County beats national average

Monroe County's composite score of 67.2 sits 34% above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the upper 35th percentile of U.S. counties. The county delivers strong livability by national standards.

Essentially at state average

Monroe County scores 67.2, nearly matching Mississippi's state average of 67.5, placing it squarely in the middle tier of the state's 82 counties. It represents the typical livable Mississippi community.

Housing affordability and tax efficiency lead

Monroe County excels in housing affordability (85.9) with median home values of $115,200 and rent at $721/month, combined with favorable tax rates (81.3). Risk indicators at 31.5 suggest moderate economic stability compared to more volatile peers.

Income opportunities remain limited

The county's income score of 16.8 reflects a median household income of $51,231, constraining local wealth-building potential. Health outcomes at 56.9 are moderate, indicating room for improvement in healthcare infrastructure or preventive services.

Ideal for those prioritizing affordability

Monroe County is well-suited for retirees, remote workers, and families with external income sources seeking maximum housing value for minimal cost. Those seeking career growth or robust healthcare should explore counties with higher income and health scores.

Score breakdown

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

Tax81.3Cost85.9SafetyComing SoonHealth56.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome16.8Risk31.5WaterComing Soon
🏛81.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠85.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤56.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡31.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Monroe County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Baldwin County
Alabama
67.2
Median income: $75,019
Aleutians East Borough
Alaska
67.2
Median income: $72,692
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
Alaska
67.2
Median income: $74,223
Garland County
Arkansas
67.2
Median income: $55,409
Berrien County
Georgia
67.2
Median income: $50,414

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 rank low in America

Monroe County's effective property tax rate of 0.746% is roughly one-third the national median of 2.1%, providing residents exceptionally affordable property taxation. At $859 annually, the median property tax stands far below the national median of $2,690.

Monroe matches Mississippi state average

Monroe County's 0.746% effective rate is virtually identical to Mississippi's 0.743% statewide average, exemplifying the state's typical tax burden. The median property tax of $859 slightly trails the state median of $931, reflecting the county's lower median home value of $115,200.

Monroe rate aligns with regional peers

Monroe County's 0.746% effective rate sits near the top of the region, matched closely by Marshall (0.747%) and Marion (0.744%), and substantially above Lowndes (0.640%). This positions Monroe among the region's higher-taxed jurisdictions, though still tax-competitive.

Median tax totals $859 annually

On a median Monroe County home valued at $115,200, property taxes amount to approximately $859 per year. With a mortgage, homeowners owe $1,009; without, $599.

Check your assessment for potential refunds

Many Monroe County homeowners overpay taxes due to inflated assessments that go unchallenged. Requesting a reassessment from the county assessor is simple and often recovers hundreds in annual taxes.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Monroe County

via CostByCounty

Monroe County hits affordability sweet spot

Monroe County renters spend 16.9% of income on rent, just above the national 16% benchmark and well below Mississippi's 19.6% state average. At $721 monthly on a $51,231 median income, Monroe delivers solid affordability without sacrifice.

Top tier of Mississippi affordability

Monroe County's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Mississippi's most affordable, beaten only by Lee ($16.6%) and Madison ($16.7%). This performance is remarkable given that Monroe's median income trails both those counties, showing that conservative rents here do real work.

Lowest rents, solid wage foundation

Monroe's $721 rent ranks among the region's cheapest, yet the $51,231 median income is respectable—higher than Marion ($42,320) and Leflore ($33,188). This combination delivers the region's best bang-for-buck housing.

Renters prosper; homeowners thrive

Renters pay $721 monthly (16.9% of income), while homeowners commit just $637 monthly on properties valued at $115,200—representing only 14.9% of income. Monroe offers the region's best homeownership value relative to wages, beating even Lincoln County.

Monroe delivers real affordability gains

If you're relocating and prioritize keeping housing costs below 17% of income, Monroe County excels: cheap rents, affordable homes, and modest wages that still stretch your dollar. Compare your current burden—if you're paying more than 18%, Monroe offers measurable relief.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Monroe County

via IncomeByCounty

Monroe County earns near state baseline

Monroe County's median household income of $51,231 lags the national median of $74,755 by $23,524, falling below national income benchmarks. The county slightly exceeds Mississippi's statewide average of $48,514, indicating performance just above state-level norms.

Monroe County ranks above Mississippi average

Monroe County's median household income of $51,231 exceeds Mississippi's statewide average of $48,514 by $2,717, placing it slightly above the state median. Per capita income of $28,411 also surpasses the state average of $27,136, suggesting moderately healthy household earnings.

Monroe County matches regional midpoint

Monroe County's median household income of $51,231 sits between lower-earning Marion County ($42,320) and higher-earning Lowndes County ($54,460), establishing it as a regional middle performer. Per capita income of $28,411 similarly tracks with nearby county averages.

Housing costs at comfortable threshold

Monroe County's rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% sits well below the 28% affordability threshold, with housing costs consuming a modest portion of household earnings. At median home values of $115,200 relative to household income, homeownership remains accessible for working families.

Build savings while seeking advancement

Monroe County's moderate income position provides households with reasonable room to establish emergency savings and retirement contributions after core expenses. Families should focus on building professional skills and pursuing wage growth to accelerate long-term wealth accumulation above current county and state averages.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Monroe County

via HealthByCounty

Monroe County near national baseline

At 71.8 years, Monroe County's life expectancy falls 4.7 years short of the U.S. average of 76.5 years. The county's 24.4% poor/fair health rate exceeds the national average of 18%, reflecting a population managing considerable chronic disease.

Slightly above state average

Monroe County's 71.8-year life expectancy ranks just above Mississippi's 70.9-year average, placing it in the middle of the state's health distribution. The 24.4% poor/fair health rate sits slightly below the state median, suggesting moderate population health status.

Limited mental health support

Monroe County offers 50 primary care providers per 100K residents, matching Lincoln County but trailing stronger counties like Lee. Mental health capacity at just 27 per 100K ranks lowest statewide—far below the regional average—creating a critical gap in behavioral health access.

Insurance and provider gaps

Monroe County's 13.7% uninsured rate sits just below the state average of 13.9%, yet severe mental health provider shortages mean coverage alone doesn't ensure access to needed care. Residents seeking mental health treatment face particularly acute barriers.

Secure insurance and plan care

If you're uninsured in Monroe County, apply at Healthcare.gov today to avoid gaps in coverage. Once covered, prioritize establishing relationships with available providers now—Monroe County's mental health shortage means waiting lists are long.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Monroe County

via RiskByCounty

Monroe County faces above-average hazard exposure

Monroe County's composite risk score of 68.54 places it in the relatively low national category, though this reflects meaningful vulnerability to earthquakes and tornadoes. The score indicates the county experiences more than average exposure to specific high-impact hazards.

Above-average risk within Mississippi

Monroe County's score of 68.54 exceeds Mississippi's state average of 50.94, positioning it in the upper-middle range of statewide risk. This standing reflects the county's particular vulnerability to seismic activity and strong tornadoes, despite lower exposure to some other hazards.

Mid-range risk in the northeast region

Monroe County's 68.54 score sits between Lincoln County (48.44) and the higher-risk areas of Lee County (81.27) and Lowndes County (80.92). While the county faces serious tornado and earthquake threats, it avoids some of the extreme concentrations of risk seen in neighboring Lowndes County.

Tornadoes and earthquakes dominate hazard profile

Monroe County faces a tornado risk of 86.42 and earthquake risk of 86.70, representing the two most significant threats residents face. These dual hazards create the need for comprehensive preparedness strategies addressing both sudden severe weather and long-term seismic vulnerability.

Secure tornado and earthquake insurance

Monroe County homeowners should ensure comprehensive wind coverage in their policies to address tornado risk, and must purchase separate earthquake insurance immediately. Consider structural improvements like roof reinforcement and secure attachment systems to enhance resilience against the county's primary hazards.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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