What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.
If you're considering a move to Monroe, LA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.
Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, with an estimated population of 46,622. The population has contracted 0.6% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in Monroe is $153,147 as of 2026-04, down 1.4% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +2.6% annual growth (-2.6% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Monroe average $1,265 per month, up 25.3% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 54 of 100 (Stable). Conditions are neither hot nor cold, so the local fit matters more than market timing.
Sideways market (-1.4% YoY). No urgency to time the macro trend — focus on the home and neighborhood.
Reasons people move here
- Held the highs: currently -2.6% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
- Cheap entry point: $153,147 median home is well below the US median of $355k — room to grow without overpaying.
- Hot rental market: rents up 25.3% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.
Things to know first
- Flat or shrinking population: -0.6% per year. Housing demand has to come from somewhere — verify the source.
- Rental squeeze: rents up 25.3% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
- Stagnant long-run trend: +1.8% 10-year CAGR plus flat population — appreciation case is weak.
More about Monroe
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.