City Report · MI

Monroe

Pop. 20,320·83rd most expensive in Michigan·Monroe rents are up 5.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,236/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

-$696

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Monroe · $1,236

More affordable than 91% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

25% of income

AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,236/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$49,000/yr

Local median income

$59,813/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Monroe's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$810

1 BR

$900

2 BR

$1,180

3 BR

$1,470

4 BR+

$1,880

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,180/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,236 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Michigan

Rent in Monroe changed +5.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,813) is $1,495 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,470); a 4-bedroom is $1,880.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Monroe. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$14,832/yr

At $1,236/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.5% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Monroe, MI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 19.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

20,320

Median income

$59,813

Median age

37.6

Renters

30.7%

Age distribution

23.5%

22.5%

25.3%

12.9%

15.8%

Under 1823.5%

18–3422.5%

35–5425.3%

55–6412.9%

65+15.8%

Gender

46.3%

53.7%

Male46.3%

Female53.7%

Race & ethnicity

83.8%

White83.8%

Black7.5%

Hispanic2.7%

Asian0.5%

Other5.5%

Education (25+)

30.5%

38.6%

19.9%

No HS diploma11.1%

HS diploma30.5%

Some college38.6%

Bachelor's+19.9%

Housing tenure

69.3%

30.7%

Owner69.3%

Renter30.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Monroe, MI has changed in 5 years

Income

$53,644 → $59,813

up 11.5%

Population

20,344 → 20,320

down 0.1%

Renter share

32.9% → 30.7%

-2.2 pts

Bachelor's+

19.9% → 19.9%

+0.0 pts

Census figures show median household income at $59,813 today, compared with $53,644 five years earlier. Renters now make up 30.7% of households, compared with 32.9% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Monroe

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View Monroe rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Monroe on your salary?

At $1,236/mo, how Monroe rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $90,701/yr · Rent = 16.4% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $64,397/yr · Rent = 23% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $74,179/yr · Rent = 20% income

very comfortable

Software Developer

Avg $132,586/yr · Rent = 11.2% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $169,411/yr · Rent = 8.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,298/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $54,442/yr · Rent = 27.2% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $67,104/yr · Rent = 22.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Monroe rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Monroe. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Monroe

About renting in Monroe, MI

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Monroe is $1,236/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $810/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,180/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $900/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,470/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($59,813/yr), Monroe ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Monroe?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $49,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,236/mo in Monroe. The local median household income is $59,813/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Monroe?

Rent in Monroe has risen 5.5% over the past year.

Which Monroe neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Monroe are 48161 ($1,127/mo), and 48162 ($1,289/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $1,236/mo.

How does Monroe rent compare to other cities in Michigan?

Monroe is one of the more affordable among Michigan cities for rent, ranking #83 of 100 tracked cities at $1,236/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Monroe changed +5.6%, against a typical +4.1% across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks.