Your life in Monroe County, Pennsylvania

What stands out

What stands out about Monroe County: the property tax rate is in the top 4% of American counties (2.01%), unemployment is in the top 5% of American counties (5.7%), and the typical two-bedroom rent is in the top 10% of American counties ($1,263 a month). Within Pennsylvania it ranks 2nd of 67 counties for the property tax rate.

Where you are

You live in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. 168,128 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.8% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -1,165).

Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% income tax and exempts all retirement income, including Social Security, pensions and 401(k) and IRA withdrawals after age 59½. It is one of six states with an inheritance tax, which applies even to children at 4.5%. Local earned-income taxes of 1% to nearly 4% apply in most municipalities, and Philadelphia's wage tax is the highest of any city in the country.

Money

The typical household here brings in $80,656 a year, higher than 88% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $53,536. Unemployment runs 5.7%, higher than 95% of American counties. 9% of workers work from home.

Pennsylvania takes 3.1% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,476 a year.

Home

The median home costs $314K, pricier than 72% of American counties, about 2.3 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,263 a month. Property tax is 2.01% of home value, roughly $4,449 a year on that median home, higher than 96% of American counties. 79% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.6 per 1,000 residents, lower than 64% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 19 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.5 years, longer than 70% of American counties. There are 215 active physicians in the county, about 12.8 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 4.0 of 5 stars. 8.4% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.10 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 67% of American counties. 90% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted almost evenly. 64% of eligible voters turned out. Under Pennsylvania law you can get a concealed-carry permit on request, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 48°F, highs near 58 and lows near 37, colder than 82% of American counties. About 41 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 81 out of 100, riskier than 81% of American counties; the county has had 21 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 238 Mbps down, faster than 68% of American counties. There are 3 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries, 3 museums.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Pennsylvania tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.