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Monroe County, IA
3 cities and towns and 4 ZIP codes in Monroe County, Iowa.
Population
7,513
Land area
434sq mi
People per sq mi
17
ZIP codes
4
Cities and towns in Monroe County
Monroe County at a glance
- Monroe County is 70% less dense than Iowa as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $70,996 a year, 5% less than the Iowa figure of $75,059.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $156,300 (25% below Iowa) and median rent is $798 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Albia (3,663), Lovilia (414) and Melrose (115).
Local data for Monroe County, IA
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Monroe County, IA, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$70,996
Poverty rate
9.2%
Median home value
$156,300
Prices +10.3% in a year
Median rent
$798/mo
Homeownership
81.3%
Bachelor's or higher
21.4%
Median age
41.8
Average commute
29.4 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: Irish Americans (1,587), German Americans (1,513), Dutch Americans (244).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
3.0%
Sep 2026, -0.5 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$71,069
3,569 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$60,691
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$63.2M
FY 2026, $8,346 per person
PPP loans
$18.1M
736 loans, 1,885 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$72.2K
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Monroe County, IA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone78.4%
- Carpooled9.8%
- Public transit0.0%
- Walked2.1%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other0.5%
- Worked from home9.0%
Average one-way commute: 29.4 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Monroe County, IA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: drought
Storm events since 1996
378
Most often thunderstorm wind
July high / Jan low
84° / 13°F
36.5 inches of rain a year
Toxic release facilities
4
No Superfund sites
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone9 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Monroe County, IA, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
38.2%
U.S. 33.3% +4.9 pts
Diabetes
11.7%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.5%
U.S. 12.8% +2.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
6.6%
U.S. 11.1% -4.5 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Monroe County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Monroe County, IA?
- Albia is the largest city or town in Monroe County, with about 3,663 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Monroe County?
- Monroe County includes 4 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 50150, 52531, 52536, 52569.
- What is the population of Monroe County, IA?
- About 7,513 people live in Monroe County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Monroe County?
- Monroe County borders Wapello County, Marion County, Mahaska County, Appanoose County, Davis County, Lucas County, Wayne County.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023