In Monroe County, Missouri, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In Monroe County, 18.1% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 77% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 63% of U.S. counties.
What drives Monroe County's score
In Monroe County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 60.6. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 17.1. About one in 10 renters (9.9%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a lower share than in 88% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Monroe County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Monroe County is worse off than most counties on people with a car or retail loan behind (9.8%, August 2025) and adults 25 to 54 not working (26.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 60.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202642nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working26.2% · 2020 to 202478th percentile
-
- 57.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.4% · 202443rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line17.1% · 202450th percentile
- People with a disability17.8% · 2020 to 202466th percentile
- People without health insurance10.6% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,949 · 202458th percentile
-
- 46.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.0% · August 20255th or lower percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.8% · August 202591st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.0% · second quarter of 202641st percentile
-
- 29.6 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.0% · August 202545th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people57.5 · 202513th percentile
-
- 17.1 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent9.9% · 2020 to 202411th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.1% · fiscal year 202722nd percentile
-
Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Monroe County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Monroe County, 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Monroe County
Missouri
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Monroe County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 30.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Monroe County, Missouri, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Monroe County getting SNAP food aid fell most in two steps: 8.8% in 2019 to 7.2% in 2020; 8.2% in 2021 to 6.6% in 2022.
The share of households in Monroe County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2016 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 6.6% in 2022. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Monroe County, Missouri.
How Monroe County has changed
Monroe County's population had its largest rise, from 8,887 in 1994 to 9,238 in 1999.
Monroe County's population fell 9% from 1969 to 2024
High on the chart: 9,766 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Monroe County, Missouri.
The number of jobs located in Monroe County had its largest drop, from 2,573 in 2005 to 1,747 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Monroe County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 39% since
High on the chart: 2,962 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Monroe County, Missouri.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.9% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.0% | 2024 12.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,739 | 2024 $63,949 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Monroe County's history
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 19,716. The 2020 Census counted 8,666, 44% of the peak. Census Bureau
2003
Heavy rain in May 2003 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2007
A tornado in October 2007 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1973
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Monroe County, 10 of them for flooding. FEMA
Monroe County beside its neighbors
Of the six counties that border Monroe County, three score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Monroe County ranks 3rd of the seven; Marion County is highest, at 32.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audrain County, MO | 64 | 15.4% | 27.2% |
| Marion County, MO | 55 | 14.1% | 32.0% |
| Randolph County, MO | 51 | 12.8% | 27.9% |
| Monroe County, MO | 36 | 12.4% | 30.0% |
| Macon County, MO | 31 | 12.0% | 30.0% |
| Shelby County, MO | 27 | 15.6% | 30.4% |
| Ralls County, MO | 22 | 8.5% | 26.2% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Monroe County the poorest county in Missouri?
No, Monroe County's poverty rate was 12.4% in 2024, 77th highest of 115 in Missouri (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Dunklin County, at 25.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Monroe County ranks 75th of 115 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Monroe County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
-
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Legal aid
-
HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Monroe County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Monroe County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.