City · Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

Monroe, Louisiana

Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, part of the Monroe, LA metro area. It has 47,004 residents. Monroe, Louisiana has a quality-of-life score of 6 out of 100 (very low), ranking #14,788 of 15,651 US cities and towns. Within Louisiana it ranks #146 of 262 cities and towns. It ranks best on pharmacies (high), mental health providers (high) and average commute time (low). It ranks worst on income inequality (Gini index) (high), child poverty rate (high) and poverty rate (high).

6Very low

Quality-of-life score: #14,788 of 15,651 cities and towns
Louisiana: #146 of 262 in LA
Population: 47,004 (2020-2024)
Land area: 30 mi²
Density: 1,571.3 /mi²
FIPS code: 2251410

Percentile-based score (100 is the best in the country) from 76 of 80 indicators, with the default “Explorer” weights.

Open in the map

Scores by category

Each category averages its indicators' percentile scores among US cities and towns.

Safety1#15,409/15,637
Economy2#15,349/15,631
Housing8#13,776/14,977
Health6#14,735/15,609
Healthcare49#7,909/15,650
Environment48#8,085/15,453
Education21#12,320/15,649
Infrastructure11#13,957/15,650
Community12#13,701/15,651
Leisure & amenities51#7,736/15,651

Strengths · Weaknesses

Indicators where Monroe, Louisiana ranks highest and lowest among US cities and towns (score = percentile, 100 = best). Values marked “Ouachita Parish value” are the county’s: the source publishes no figure for this city or town, and the county holding most of its residents stands in.

Strengths

Pharmacies · high3.5 /10k
98/100Louisiana 2.7 /10kUnited States 1.8 /10k2025U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsOuachita Parish value
Mental health providers · high568 /100k
92/100Louisiana 365 /100kUnited States 348 /100k2025University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteOuachita Parish value
Average commute time · low18.2 min
92/100Louisiana 25.7 minUnited States 26.4 min2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08013
Natural hazard risk · low6.8
89/100Louisiana 71.72025Federal Emergency Management AgencyOuachita Parish value
Public transit commuters · high2.7%
87/100Louisiana 0.9%United States 3.2%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B08301
Days with unhealthy air · low0.0%
84/1002025U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOuachita Parish value

Weaknesses

Income inequality (Gini index) · high0.614
0/100Louisiana 0.495United States 0.4832020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B19083
Child poverty rate · high47.9%
0/100Louisiana 25.0%United States 15.5%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B17001
Poverty rate · high35.9%
1/100Louisiana 18.6%United States 12.1%2020-2024U.S. Census Bureau Census table B17001
Adult obesity · high49.8%
1/100Louisiana 42.3%United States 38.2%2023University of Wisconsin Population Health InstituteModel-based estimate
Property crime rate · high3,241 /100k
1/100Louisiana 1,966 /100kUnited States 1,535 /100k2025Federal Bureau of InvestigationOuachita Parish value
Violent crime rate · high880 /100k
1/100Louisiana 515 /100kUnited States 328 /100k2025Federal Bureau of InvestigationOuachita Parish value

Trends

The largest changes over about five years, next to the country's over the same periods.

New homes permittedWorsening
4.6 /1k (2021) → 0.5 /1k (Sep 2025–Aug 2026)
−88%5 yearsUS 5.2 /1k → 4.2 /1k
Broadband subscriptionsImproving
68.9% (2015-2019) → 80.3% (2020-2024)
+11 pts5 yearsCensus table B28002US 82.7% → 91.0%
Median household incomeImproving
$30,438 (2015-2019) → $40,505 (2020-2024)
+33%5 yearsCensus table B19013US $65,712 → $81,604
Bachelor's degree or higherImproving
25.9% (2015-2019) → 32.4% (2020-2024)
+6.5 pts5 yearsCensus table B15003US 32.1% → 35.7%
Child poverty rateImproving
54.1% (2015-2019) → 47.9% (2020-2024)
−6.3 pts5 yearsCensus table B17001US 16.8% → 15.5%
Rent as share of incomeWorsening
35.3% (2015-2019) → 41.5% (2020-2024)
+6.2 pts5 yearsCensus table B25071US 29.8% → 30.6%

What changed in five years

How each measure moved between two periods about five years apart, read against whether more or less is better, the published margin of error and the same change in other places.

Over about five years, Monroe, Louisiana improved on 5 of 15 measures with a comparison and declined on 2. 8 moved within the margin of error and 0 barely changed.

Earlier (2015-2019)
Latest (2020-2024)
Lower standingHigher standing

Position is the place's standing among cities and towns: further right is better, whichever way the measure counts.

Improved5

Uninsured−4.6 points12.1% → 7.5%
Bachelor's++6.5 points25.9% → 32.4%
Child poverty−6.3 points54.1% → 47.9%
Broadband+11 points68.9% → 80.3%
Household income+33%$30,438 → $40,505

Declined2

Rent / income+6.2 points35.3% → 41.5%
Commute+2.8 min15.3 min → 18.2 min

All 15 measures

Change of every measure of Monroe, Louisiana between two periods about five years apart
Measure	Before	After	Change	Reading	Favourable vs peers
Average commute time	15.3 min2015-2019	18.2 min2020-2024	+2.8 min	Declined	21%
Bachelor's degree or higher	25.9%2015-2019	32.4%2020-2024	+6.5 points	Improved	77%
Broadband subscriptions	68.9%2015-2019	80.3%2020-2024	+11 points	Improved	66%
Child poverty rate	54.1%2015-2019	47.9%2020-2024	−6.3 points	Improved	73%
Effective property tax rate	0.65%2015-2019	0.56%2020-2024	−0.1 points	Within the margin of error	33%
High school diploma or higher	84.3%2015-2019	85.6%2020-2024	+1.3 points	Within the margin of error	50%
Home price to income ratio	4.6×2015-2019	4.9×2020-2024	+0.3×	Within the margin of error	60%
Income inequality (Gini index)	0.5912015-2019	0.6142020-2024	+0.023	Within the margin of error	31%
Median household income	$30,4382015-2019	$40,5052020-2024	+33%	Improved	62%
Poverty rate	36.8%2015-2019	35.9%2020-2024	−0.9 points	Within the margin of error	52%
Public transit commuters	3.1%2015-2019	2.7%2020-2024	−0.4 points	Within the margin of error	21%
Rent as share of income	35.3%2015-2019	41.5%2020-2024	+6.2 points	Declined	18%
Rent-burdened households	60.1%2015-2019	65.1%2020-2024	+5 points	Within the margin of error	38%
Unemployment rate	8.5%2015-2019	10.2%2020-2024	+1.7 points	Within the margin of error	20%
Uninsured residents (under 65)	12.1%2015-2019	7.5%2020-2024	−4.6 points	Improved	85%

“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 14640 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.

Sources: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Values are the latest and the one five years earlier of the same publisher dataset; datasets that changed publisher in between are never compared.

Survey estimates (American Community Survey) compare the two most recent 5-year windows that do not share years, so the margin of error of the difference holds. The 2015-2019 window predates the pandemic and 2020-2024 includes it.
A change counts only when it is larger than 1.645 times the square root of the two standard errors squared, summed (a 90% margin). Measures published without a margin must change by at least 5% to count.
“Against peers” compares the change with the same change in the 15651 cities and towns that have the same two periods. It describes how common a change is, not why it happened.
Standing is a percentile among the same places: 0 is the lowest value on the measure (or the worst when lower is better), 100 the best.

Cities and towns like Monroe, Louisiana five years ago that improved

The places whose measures looked most like those of Monroe, Louisiana in the earlier period, ranked by how many measures improved beyond the margin of error, minus how many declined. A comparison of published data, not a forecast and not advice.

For comparison, Monroe, Louisiana itself moved −1.2 points in standing on average over the same 10 measures (standings of all places average about zero).

How the ranking works

Similarity is the root-mean-square difference of standings in the earlier period over the measures most places have. Places are ranked by measures that improved beyond the margin of error minus those that declined (a count that estimation noise in small places cannot inflate), then by the mean change of standing over the measures a place has in both periods. Only places with more improvements than declines and a rise in standing are listed. Standings are relative, so a place can improve in absolute terms and still lose standing.

Who lives here

Age, race and education of residents, from the American Community Survey. Shares are of all residents (age), residents of every origin (race) or adults 25 and over (education).

Age and sex

47,004 residents (±43)

Men
Women

80 and over†
70–79
60–69

Income

How household income is spread, not just the middle: each bar is the share of households in that income range.

Household income

18,335 households (±598)

Monroe, Louisiana
Louisiana share

Under $25k39%7,065
$25k–50k20%3,596
$50k–75k14%2,496

Homes

Who owns and who rents, what homes cost, and what the housing stock looks like.

Owners and renters

18,335 households (±598)

Monroe, Louisiana
Louisiana share

Own48%8,757
Rent52%9,578

Biggest shift since 2015–2019: Own (+5.0 points).

Table view

Getting to work

How workers travel to their job and how long it takes them.

How people get to work

17,462 workers (±1,102)

Monroe, Louisiana
Louisiana share

Drive alone73%12,715
Carpool12%2,060
Public transit2.7%†466

Jobs and pay

What the largest occupations here pay, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes pay by metro area, not by county or city. The metro area page lists its largest occupations and lets you look up any job.

Pay in the Monroe, LA

Local businesses

Employer businesses and sole proprietors by industry, per resident and against the state and the nation. Counts of businesses next to counts of people, not a measure of demand.

The Census Bureau publishes business counts by county, not by city, so these are the figures of Ouachita Parish, the county holding most of Monroe's residents.

Ouachita Parish has 4,181 employer establishments, 264 for every 10,000 residents (1.06× the US rate of 248; 1.12× Louisiana's), with 59,407 paid employees at an average annual pay of $47,059. The Census Bureau also counts 14,730 nonemployer businesses, mostly sole proprietors.

Establishments: 4,181; 14,730 nonemployers
Per 10,000 residents: 264; US 248 · Louisiana 236
Paid employees: 59,407
Average annual pay: $47,059; US $68,342

Employer establishments, employees, average pay and nonemployers of Ouachita Parish by industry, with the density per resident against the nation

Ambulatory health care services	512	32.4	1.55×More than typical	5,815	$54,036	766
Restaurants and other eating places	256	16.2	0.88×About typical	5,742	$18,711	71
Specialty trade contractors	238	15	0.97×About typical	2,455	$55,736	860
Lessors of real estate	197	12.5	1.01×About typical	550	$45,695	1,345
Offices of physicians	183	11.6	1.79×More than typical	1,852	$90,438	157
Legal services	150	9.5	1.76×More than typical	600	$48,578	125
Religious organizations	146	9.2	1.66×More than typical	1,522	$21,720	—
Offices of other health practitioners	136	8.6	1.42×More than typical	833	$38,158	305
Limited-service restaurants	131	8.3	1.03×About typical	3,224	$17,294	20
Building equipment contractors	106	6.7	1.11×About typical	1,490	$57,412	196
Services to buildings and dwellings	104	6.6	0.98×About typical	1,124	$31,557	1,461
Full-service restaurants	99	6.3	0.82×About typical	2,228	$20,821	25

Rank places for an industry Open Ouachita Parish

County Business Patterns (2023); Nonemployer Statistics (2024)

Per-resident figures divide by the population estimate of 2023: 158,155 residents here, 336,755,052 in the United States. County Business Patterns counts establishments in 2023; the Nonemployer Statistics count businesses in 2024.
“More than typical” is a density at least 1.25 times the nation's per resident, “fewer” at most 0.8 times, with at least 10 establishments. It compares counts of businesses with counts of people: it says nothing about demand, incomes, size, quality or profit, and visitors and commuters are not residents.
The Census Bureau adds noise to employment and payroll to protect confidentiality, and withholds some figures: an industry with few establishments can show employees or pay as unavailable.
Industries overlap: a narrower industry (full-service restaurants) is part of a broader one (restaurants), so the rows do not add up.
Industries follow the North American Industry Classification System; the two surveys use different editions (NAICS 2017 and 2022), which this page matches industry by industry.

Federal contracts performed here

In FY2026, an estimated $1.4M of federal contract obligations were for work performed in Monroe, Louisiana: $29.58 per resident (US $1,994).

Obligations: $1.4M; −54% vs FY2025
Per resident: $29.58; US $1,994
Sole-source: 22%; US 30%
Single offer: 0.8%; US 8.8%

A signal is a reason to look closer, not evidence of wrongdoing: most sole-source awards are lawful and justified.

Top buying agencies

Defense Logistics Agency$453.8K33%
U.S. Coast Guard$275.6K20%
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons$253.2K18%
Department of the Army$125.3K9.0%
Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services$111K8.0%
Public Buildings Service$101K7.3%
Department of Veterans Affairs$33.1K2.4%
Federal Aviation Administration$24.7K1.8%

Top recipients

ROBERTSON PRODUCE OF MONROE, LLC$453.8K33%
ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HEALTH CONSULTING SERVICES, INC.$275.6K20%
CITY OF FAITH PRISON MINISTRIES$244K18%
TKTMJ, INC.$125.3K9.0%
LEONARD CHAUVIN P.E P.L.S INC$111K8.0%

Spending by fiscal year

1.1MFY2017
20.9MFY2018
1.9MFY2019
1.7MFY2020
14.3MFY2021
2.2MFY2022
2.4MFY2023
3M

Top industries (NAICS)

Other food manufacturing · 3119$453.8K33%
Remediation and other waste management services · 5629$275.6K20%
Other residential care facilities · 6239$244K18%
Architectural, engineering, and related services · 5413$167.1K12%
Other heavy and civil engineering construction · 2379$125.3K9.0%
Nonresidential building construction · 2362$47K

Largest awards whose ZIP code lies mostly in Monroe, Louisiana

CHAUVIN SURVEY FOR FY25 ACEP-WRE EASEMENTS: JESSIE AND JUDY LACHNEY LIVING TRUST, 5472172501XYW, AVOYELLES PARISH; PENDERDOSA, LLC, 5472172501T0P, CONCORDIA PARISH; TENSAS DELTA FARM, LLC, 54721725020PQ, CATAHOULA PARISH.$155.8K
LEONARD CHAUVIN P.E P.L.S INC· Ouachita Parish, LA· Professional services· Jan 15, 2026 – Jan 15, 2026· 12FPC126F0009
RENOVATE OFFICES 213, 214, AND 215 LOCATED AT US DISTRICT COURT, 201 JACKSON STREET, SUITE 215 MONROE, LA. 70201$78.6K
PDG, INC.· Ouachita Parish, LA· Construction & real property· May 4, 2026 – May 4, 2026· 47PD5226F0201
MONROE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE PLASTER REPAIR, LOCATED 201 JACKSON STREET, MONROE, LOUISIANA 71201$63K
AMSTAR INC· Ouachita Parish, LA· Construction & real property· Aug 24, 2026 – Aug 24, 2026· 47PD5226F0449

Source: Federal contract transactions (Federal Procurement Data System) (U.S. Department of the Treasury, USAspending.gov), data current to Oct 3, 2026, loaded Oct 3, 2026.

How this is estimated

Agencies report each contract action's place of performance as a county and a ZIP code. A ZIP code's money is split among the cities it covers by the share of its land inside each (Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation areas); the part outside city limits stays with the county.

The place of performance is what the contracting agency reports, often the contractor's office rather than where the work happens.
Shares are of land, not of people or businesses: a ZIP code that is mostly rural land but has its offices in town gives the town less than it should.
ZIP codes that are not mapped areas (post office boxes, the unique ZIP codes of large federal sites and companies) stay with their county, unless one city covers nearly all of it.
Counts of actions and awards include those only partly in Monroe, Louisiana, so they do not add up across cities.

Monroe, Louisiana's figures are part of those of Ouachita Parish, LA ($61M in FY2026), never added to them: 2.3% of that total.

Grants and other federal assistance are counted by county here, not split among cities: Monroe is mostly in Ouachita Parish.

See federal money in Ouachita Parish

Representation in Congress

Members serving today, with their record in the current Congress (party-unity votes cast with their caucus, roll calls missed). Not a grade.

Monroe, Louisiana is split between congressional districts: each representative is shown with the share of its residents in their district (current boundaries).

House

Senate

County

A city can lie in several counties. Some indicators are published for counties only: the page marks them.

Ouachita Parish20100% of residents

Metro area

The metro or micro area the city belongs to.

Monroe, LA12

Other cities and towns in Ouachita Parish

Largest first.

Similar cities and towns

Closest indicator profiles across the country (no model: score distances).

Data and sources

Latest published value of each indicator; periods differ by source. Values flagged by their publisher are marked.

PLACES: Local Data for Better HealthCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · release 2025
Local Area Unemployment StatisticsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · release 2025
American Community Survey 5-Year EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2017-2024
Building Permits SurveyU.S. Census Bureau · release 2026-08
Population Estimates ProgramU.S. Census Bureau · release 2025
Small Area Health Insurance EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
Small Area Income and Poverty EstimatesU.S. Census Bureau · release 2024
County Health Rankings & RoadmapsUniversity of Wisconsin Population Health Institute · release 2022-2025+2026-03-supplement

JSON · /api/v1/places/2251410

Scores by category

Strengths · Weaknesses

Strengths

Weaknesses

Trends