Monroe County, Illinois: commercial real estate data.
Monroe County, Illinois had an estimated 34,969 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.0 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,954, across 385 square miles. County output reached $1.35 bn in 2024, 875 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 43 7(a) approvals worth $15.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Monroe County
How many people live in Monroe County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202435,036
- Households13,851
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$102,880
- Median age43.2
- Median gross rent$1,042 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$282,100
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher38.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree13.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over25,059
- Population under 187,651
- Share under 1821.8 percent
- Population 65 and over6,913
- Share 65 and over19.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6420,472
- Civilian labor force19,224
- Unemployment rate1.9 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.2 percent
- Rank by population among Illinois counties40th of 102
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1338th of 3,222
Monroe County is the 40th largest of 102 Illinois counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 21.8 percent against 19.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Monroe County
Is Monroe County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202434,969
- Census 2020 base population34,954
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.04 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-175
- Births, 2024158
- Deaths, 2024367
- Natural change, 2024-209
- Net domestic migration, 202437
- Net international migration, 2024-1
- Total net migration, 202436
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024450
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1808th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.04 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 by more than net migration added, so the population fell even though more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Monroe County
Where are people moving to Monroe County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving775
- People arriving, from those returns1,412
- Tax returns filed by households leaving682
- Net household movement93
- Adjusted gross income arriving$59.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.4 m
- Average income of an arriving household$76,852
- Average income of a leaving household$83,767
- Largest single originSt. Clair County (239 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Clair County (156 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | 239 | 469 | $18.6 m |
| St. Louis County | 113 | 216 | $9.3 m |
| Randolph County | 68 | 120 | $3.6 m |
| St. Louis city | 51 | 88 | $4.6 m |
| Madison County | 45 | 82 | $3.2 m |
| Jefferson County | 27 | 47 | $2.3 m |
Households arriving report $6,915 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is St. Clair County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Monroe County
What is the Monroe County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.35 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.27 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20245.6 percent
- GDP change over five years45.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Illinois areas BEA publishes53rd of 102
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1601st of 3,127
- GDP per resident$38,401
Output grew 5.6 percent in the latest year and 45.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Monroe County
Employment by industry in Monroe County
- Covered employment, annual average8,442
- Establishments reporting827
- Average annual pay$48,706
- Average weekly wage$937
- Retail trade, employment1,241
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,255
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,221
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,486
- Health care and social assistance, employment922
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$48,681
- Construction, employment554
- Construction, average annual pay$76,328
- Finance and insurance, employment512
- Other services, except public administration, employment508
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 1,241 | 91 | $36,255 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,221 | 77 | $21,486 |
| Health care and social assistance | 922 | 70 | $48,681 |
| Construction | 554 | 96 | $76,328 |
| Finance and insurance | 512 | 52 | $85,504 |
| Other services, except public administration | 508 | 78 | $43,910 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 448 | 52 | $38,071 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 340 | 88 | $73,511 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,241 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Monroe County
How many businesses are in Monroe County?
- Establishments, all industries875
- Employment at those establishments8,455
- Annual payroll$371.9 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents25.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Monroe County
Building permits in Monroe County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202460
- Declared construction value permitted$22.8 m
- Single family units authorized58
- Multifamily units authorized2
- Multifamily share of units3.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$379,991
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.3
Single-family homes are 96.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Monroe County
SBA loans in Monroe County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded43
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$15.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$370,081
- Median 7(a) approval$100,000
- 10th percentile approval$25,000
- 90th percentile approval$905,200
- Largest single approval$4,500,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)386
- Jobs per approval9.0
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active17
- Distinct industries receiving approvals29
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter36
- Franchise loans3
- Franchise share of approvals7.0 percent
- Most active lenderThe First National Bank of Waterloo (16)
- 504 approvals recorded22
- 504 gross approval dollars$20.3 m
- Average 504 approval$922,682
- Median 504 approval$416,500
- Distinct CDCs active5
- 504 jobs per approval12.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved13.1
- Most active CDCSmall Business Growth Corporation (16)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$36.2 m
The average approval of $370,081 sits well above the median of $100,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 16.3 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Monroe County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Monroe County
Do SBA loans in Monroe County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full11
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Exempt from disclosure24
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Cancelled6
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 12 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Monroe County
SBA lending by place in Monroe County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Waterloo, approvals23
- Columbia, approvals17
- Red Bud, approvals2
- Fults, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 23 | $7,786,400 |
| Columbia | 17 | $7,816,600 |
| Red Bud | 2 | $290,500 |
| Fults | 1 | $20,000 |
Waterloo accounts for 23 approvals against 17 in Columbia. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Monroe County
How large is Monroe County?
- Land area385 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Illinois counties75th of 102
- Width, east to west25.8 mi
- Height, north to south29.8 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land91
- Establishments per square mile2.27
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Monroe County
Flood risk in Monroe County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Monroe County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 170509
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book6
- Of those, participating in the NFIP5
- NFIP participation rate83.3 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Monroe County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Monroe County (community 170509), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Monroe County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 83.3 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Monroe County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Monroe County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202435,036
- Households13,851
- Average household size2.53
- Median household income$102,880
- Median age43.2
Common questions
Monroe County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Monroe County, Illinois?
The Census Bureau estimates 34,969 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 35,036, in 13,851 households, ranking 40th of 102 Illinois counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Monroe County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.04 percent since the 2020 census base of 34,954, to 34,969 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 158 births against 367 deaths, with net migration of 36. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Monroe County?
$102,880. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $282,100, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $1,042 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Monroe County?
875 establishments, employing 8,455 people with an annual payroll of $371.9 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Monroe County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 1,241 jobs, 14.7 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 8,442 jobs at an average annual pay of $48,706, or $937 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Monroe County?
43 7(a) approvals totaling $15.9 m since FY2020, across 17 lenders, with a median approval of $100,000, plus 22 504 approvals worth $20.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Monroe County?
60 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $22.8 m. Multifamily was 3.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Monroe County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Monroe County come from?
The largest single origin is St. Clair County, with 239 households. Arriving households report an average income of $76,852 against $83,767 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Monroe County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Monroe County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Monroe County
Cities and places in Monroe.
7 Census places lie wholly or partly in Monroe County. All 7 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | city | 11,129 | 23 | Wholly in this county |
| Columbia | city | 11,127 | 17 | 91.4 percent here, 8.6 percent St. Clair County |
| Dupo | village | 3,879 | None recorded | 8.1 percent here, 91.9 percent St. Clair County |
| Valmeyer | village | 1,090 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hecker | village | 521 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Maeystown | village | 65 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fults | village | 12 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
A further 2 of the county's 43 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Monroe County, the largest being Red Bud (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.