Population

Monroe

35,596

Essex

40,670

Median Income

Monroe

$67,265

Essex

$67,082

Home Value

Monroe

$270,600

Essex

$253,500

Rent

Monroe

$1,216

Essex

$1,307

Crime Rate

Monroe

6.63

Essex

N/A

Cost of Living

Monroe

112.8

Essex

115.8

Avg Temp

Monroe

N/A

Essex

N/A

Unemployment

Monroe

5.5%

Essex

5.3%

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How Similar Are Monroe & Essex?

Essex is Monroe's #14 most similar city

5/8

5 of 8 key metrics match within 10%

Population

👥

Monroe

35,596

vs

Essex

40,670

Different · 12% difference

Essex has a 12% larger population than Monroe.

Political Leaning

Monroe

62.1%

vs

Essex

36.5%

Different · 41% difference
🗳️

Monroe leans Republican while Essex leans Democratic.

Unemployment

💼

Monroe

5.5%

vs

Essex

5.3%

Match · 2% difference

Both cities have similar unemployment — just a 2% difference.

Median Income

Monroe

$67,265

vs

Essex

$67,082

Match · 0% difference
💰

Both cities have similar median income — just a 0% difference.

Home Values

🏠

Monroe

$270,600

vs

Essex

$253,500

Match · 6% difference

Both cities have similar home values — just a 6% difference.

Education

Monroe

13.5%

vs

Essex

13.3%

Match · 2% difference
🎓

Both cities have similar education — just a 2% difference.

Demographics

🌍

Monroe

48.2%

vs

Essex

54.8%

Different · 12% difference

Essex has a 12% higher demographics than Monroe.

Cost of Living

Monroe

112.8

vs

Essex

115.8

Match · 3% difference
💵

Both cities have similar cost of living — just a 3% difference.

5 out of 8 key metrics match within 10%. Monroe and Essex share several key characteristics.

At a Glance

0

Monroe

vsof 8

0

Essex

Essex leads in 3 of 8 categories

Cost of Living & Affordability — Monroe leads

Source: City Stats Index / HUD

Monroe has a fair market rent (2br) of $1,686 vs $1,857 in Essex (9% lower). Monroe scores 131.1 on the housing index (100 = national avg) vs 139.6 in Essex. Monroe has a living wage (family of 4) of $117,264 vs $120,402 in Essex.

Overall Cost Index

Monroe112.8
Essex115.8

Housing Index

Monroe131.1
Essex139.6

Food Index

Monroe101.4
Essex101.3

Transportation Index

Monroe102.8
Essex102.5

Healthcare Index

Monroe101.1
Essex101.0

Utilities Index

Monroe107.1
Essex108.7

Living Wage (1 Adult)

Monroe$49,612
Essex$50,939

Living Wage (Family of 4)

Monroe$117,264
Essex$120,402

Fair Market Rent (1BR)

Monroe$1,538
Essex$1,511

Fair Market Rent (2BR)

Monroe$1,686
Essex$1,857

Housing Market — Monroe leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Monroe has a median property tax of $1,856 vs $2,895 in Essex (36% lower). Essex has a vacancy rate of 6.5% compared to 7.0% in Monroe. Monroe has a median rent of $1,216 vs $1,307 in Essex (7% lower).

Median Home Value

Monroe$270,600
Essex$253,500

Median Rent

Monroe$1,216
Essex$1,307

Median Property Tax

Monroe$1,856
Essex$2,895

Owner-Occupied

Monroe58.5%
Essex57.6%

Vacancy Rate

Monroe7.0%
Essex6.5%

Single-Family Homes

Monroe75.8%
Essex73.9%

Jobs & Economy — Essex leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Monroe has a government sector of 47.2% compared to 38.8% in Essex. Essex has a per capita income of $36,457 vs $29,277 in Monroe (20% higher). Essex: 22,026 vs Monroe: 17,752 for labor force.

Median Household Income

Monroe$67,265
Essex$67,082

Per Capita Income

Monroe$29,277
Essex$36,457

Poverty Rate

Monroe13.9%
Essex12.7%

Unemployment Rate

Monroe5.5%
Essex5.3%

Labor Force

Monroe17,752
Essex22,026

Mean Commute

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Work from Home

Monroe5.5%
Essex6.6%

Private Sector

MonroeN/A
Essex85.5%

Government Sector

Monroe47.2%
Essex38.8%

Crime & Safety

Source: FBI UCR

Violent Crime Rate (per 1K)

Monroe6.63
EssexN/A

Property Crime Rate (per 1K)

Monroe33.34
EssexN/A

Murder Rate (per 1K)

Monroe0.08
EssexN/A

Robbery Rate (per 1K)

Monroe0.82
EssexN/A

Assault Rate (per 1K)

Monroe4.91
EssexN/A

Burglary Rate (per 1K)

Monroe4.29
EssexN/A

Larceny Rate (per 1K)

Monroe26.50
EssexN/A

Violent Crime Clearance

Monroe28.3%
EssexN/A

Property Crime Clearance

Monroe15.8%
EssexN/A

Weather & Climate

Source: NOAA / Open-Meteo

Avg Annual Temperature

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Avg Annual High

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Avg Annual Low

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Sunny Days per Year

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Annual Rainfall

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Annual Snowfall

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Avg Humidity

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Schools & Education

Source: NCES / U.S. Census Bureau

Essex has a high school diploma or higher of 40.9% compared to 31.5% in Monroe. Monroe has a bachelor's degree or higher of 13.5% compared to 13.3% in Essex.

Public Schools

Monroe0
Essex0

Avg Student-Teacher Ratio

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Colleges & Universities

Monroe0
Essex0

Bachelor's Degree or Higher

Monroe13.5%
Essex13.3%

High School Diploma or Higher

Monroe31.5%
Essex40.9%

Demographics & Community

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Essex has a population of 40,670, about 1.1x the size of Monroe (35,596). Monroe skews younger with a median age of 36.5 vs 40.9.

Population

Monroe35,596
Essex40,670

Median Age

Monroe37
Essex41

Avg Household Size

Monroe2.9
Essex2.5

Married Population

Monroe39.6%
Essex36.3%

Foreign Born

Monroe17.8%
Essex8.3%

White

Monroe48.2%
Essex54.8%

Black

Monroe21.6%
Essex33.6%

Hispanic

Monroe31.0%
Essex7.0%

Asian

Monroe0.7%
Essex1.3%

Monroe

Essex

Healthcare — Essex leads

Source: CMS Hospital Compare

Essex: 3.8 vs Monroe: 3.0 for avg cms rating (out of 5).

Nearby Hospitals

Monroe5
Essex5

Avg CMS Rating (out of 5)

Monroe3.0
Essex3.8

With Emergency Services

Monroe5
Essex5

Transportation & Commute — Essex leads

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS

Essex has a public transit of 6.3% compared to 0.0% in Monroe. Essex has a bicycle of 0.3% compared to 0.1% in Monroe. Essex has a work from home of 6.6% compared to 5.5% in Monroe.

Mean Commute Time

MonroeN/A
EssexN/A

Drive Alone

Monroe74.9%
Essex71.7%

Public Transit

Monroe0.0%
Essex6.3%

Bicycle

Monroe0.1%
Essex0.3%

Work from Home

Monroe5.5%
Essex6.6%

Airports

Monroe0
Essex0

Cities Similar to Monroe, NC

Compare Monroe against its closest statistical matches across demographics, income, crime, health, and more.

🧬

City Comparison

8-axis fingerprint: population, income, housing, crime, education, age, climate, and cost of living. Click legend items to toggle.

PopulationIncomeHome ValueSafetyEducationMedian AgeClimateCost of Living

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