Monroe County, Missouri Income Statistics
Monroe County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Monroe County Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Monroe County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $53,714 | $70,801 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,235 | $54,686 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.0% | 10.5% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 8.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Monroe County is about 24% lower than in Missouri. Income has been growing slower in Monroe County (3.5%/yr) than in Missouri (4.6%/yr).
About 5% of adults in Monroe County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Missouri average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Monroe County, Missouri grew by 37.1% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $53,714 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Monroe County
| Metric | Monroe County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.524 | 0.532 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,678 | $64,288 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,878 | $51,060 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.6% | 20.6% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Monroe County, it is 0.524, lower than Missouri's 0.532, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 40% more than women's income in Monroe County, Missouri. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $588,000 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Missouri has widened from about 19% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 13% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,315 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Monroe County widened by 9.5 points while Missouri's narrowed by 4.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Monroe County | Missouri Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.8% | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 3.8% | 13.0% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 20 | 22 |
Approximately 64 people are unemployed in Monroe County, Missouri.
The average commute time in Monroe County is 22 minutes, longer than the 20 minutes in Missouri.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Monroe County, Missouri has fallen from 6.8% to 1.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 7.0% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.2% in 2022.
Monroe County, MO Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Monroe County, MO is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 8,734 residents against a local median of 24,365. The measure that sets Monroe County, MO apart most is unemployment: 1.8%, 59% below the local median of 4.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.5%/yr against a local median of 4.2%/yr, 18% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Monroe County, MO is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.1% on unemployment, so Monroe County, MO sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Monroe County, MO has the 2nd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County, MO | 8,734 | $53,714 #4/6 | 3.5%/yr #5/6 | 1.8% #2/6 | 0.524 #2/6 |
| Shelby County, MO | 5,986 | $52,143 | 2.9%/yr | 1.8% | 0.528 |
| Audrain County, MO | 24,548 | $59,477 | 4.3%/yr | 4.3% | 0.533 |
| Ralls County, MO | 10,428 | $68,256 | 4.2%/yr | 4.8% | 0.522 |
| Marion County, MO | 28,457 | $63,331 | 4.7%/yr | 3.8% | 0.528 |
| Randolph County, MO | 24,365 | $53,637 | 3.6%/yr | 4.4% | 0.526 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Monroe County, Missouri has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Missouri, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Monroe County, Missouri.
How Rich Is Monroe County, Missouri?
Monroe County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $53,714, about 24% lower than the Missouri average of $70,801.
How fast is household income rising in Monroe County, Missouri?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Monroe County, Missouri rose 37%, from $39,166 to $53,714. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Missouri as a whole: +37% against +54%.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Monroe County, Missouri was $47,946, down 5% from $50,298 in 2022. The Missouri median that year was $69,047.
What was the median household income in Monroe County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Monroe County, Missouri was $43,422. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $53,714.
Is unemployment high in Monroe County, Missouri?
Unemployment in Monroe County, Missouri is only 1.8%, well below the Missouri rate of 4.0%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Monroe County, Missouri?
The Gini coefficient in Monroe County is 0.524. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Monroe County, Missouri?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Monroe County, Missouri has widened from about 19% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 13% in 2015. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,315 since 2009.
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