Checkerboard Inn, 1790
Monroe’s story
227 years in pictures
Census counts: 2,969 in 1820, a low of 1,694 in 1890, 21,387 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 1790 and 4 maps from 1902 on.
- 1799Monroe is settled
Village of MonroeNY
A town of 9,462, settled in 1799.
1 bordering townMap →
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
9,462
2025 Census estimate · −0.3% since 2020
Typical home
$524K
−0.2% in a year
Household income
$110K
median
Median age
32.6
years
Jobs based here
2,724
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#275 of 745 in NY
Is Monroe a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Monroe grades B+ overall, 275th among New York's 745 graded towns. It is healthier than 86% of U.S. towns and the median household earns $110K. What holds it back is price: the typical home is worth about $524K, 5.3 years of the Kiryas Joel metro’s $98K median household income. Monroe’s median rent is $2,202 a month, where New York’s towns sit at $1,098 a month and U.S. towns at $1,185 a month. Monroe is more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Crane Park;Mill Ponds, at 42 acres.
What makes Monroe stand out
Where Monroe beats most towns.
A growing town
Monroe has grown 11% since 2010
8,364 counted in 2010 and 9,343 in 2020; an estimated 9,462 in 2025.
Growth has leveled off: within 1% of 2020, after 11.7% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Monroe grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within New York), ordered by how far Monroe is from typical.
Cost of livingDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →HealthKeller Ach (West Point) 11.9 miles awayAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 10.3 of 20; 4.7% of households have no carA−Open →Jobs & incomeA−Open →SafetyBOpen →SchoolsBeat 55% of New York districts on tests and graduationBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 6% conserved landBOpen →History5 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life4.1 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market$524K typical home, down 0.2% in a year; 77 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.6–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 594 attractions →United States Military Academy and 250 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Monroe. Close and well known come first.
Big draw13 mi MuseumUnited States Military Academy
Big draw39 mi GardenCentral Park40.0M visitors a year
Big draw35 mi Stadium & arenaMetLife Stadium
Big draw40 mi TheatreStudio 54
Big draw39 mi MuseumMetropolitan Museum of Art2.0M visitors a year
Big draw36 mi Stadium & arenaYankee StadiumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
United States Military Academy: USMA Public Affairs Office, Public domain · Central Park: Ed Yourdon from New York City, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · MetLife Stadium: babyknight, CC BY 2.0 · Studio 54: Americasroof (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · Metropolitan Museum of Art: Hugo Schneider, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yankee Stadium: Matt Boulton, CC BY-SA 2.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Monroe: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Monroe, and how to reach them.
PowerOrange & Rockland26.2¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterMonroe Village water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers96% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Monroe’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn New York you can register online until 10 days before Election Day, in person until 10 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before and received 10 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereOrange County Board of ElectionsOrange County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2023
ZIP code1095010950 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Monroe.
Monroe has less tooth loss than most of New York, but it has seen reported crime rise by about half and has a long record of flood insurance claims.
HealthA
Monroe earns an A for health
Its widest gap with New York is tooth loss: 6.7% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 12.8% statewide.
17% of Monroe adults have been diagnosed with depression. Monroe beats the New York average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 29% of Monroe adults have high blood pressure.
86%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Monroe | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 21% | 23% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 34% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 10% | 13% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. New York
12 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | Monroe | NY |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 6.7% | 12.8% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 2.6% | 3.4% |
Keller Ach (West Point)
11.9 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
73rd
percentile among NY towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Very low risk in Monroe, with inland flooding at the top
82 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 11 properties have flooded more than once.
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 85% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 82 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Monroe.
15risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesCold waves
82
paid flood claims since 1979
10
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most of Monroe’s workers commute out: the town has 0.7 jobs for each of them
Most working residents leave Monroe for work: only 5% work in town. The average trip to work in Monroe is 32 minutes. Jobs based in Monroe grew to 2,724 in 2023, 155 more than in 2013.
5%work in town
| Monroe | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 32 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $110,000 | $82,000 | $80,000 |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 12% | 11% |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 10% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Monroe5%
New York25%
Monroe8%
Woodbury6%
Ramapo5%
21 mi
median commute distance
2,724
jobs based in Monroe
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 81% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Monroe, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Monroe has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 83°, January nights drop to 18° and about 36 inches of snow falls in a winter.
36″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter21–38°
Spring38–58°
Summer60–80°
Fall43–62°
Oct 11
typical first frost
May 1
typical last frost
+2.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
A smaller share of residents in Monroe are 65 or older than in the typical New York or U.S. town
9.8% of residents are 65 or older in Monroe. 42% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 40% across New York. 28% of residents are under 18 in Monroe.
32.6median age · NY 39.8
| Monroe | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28% | 20% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 9.8% | 20% | 18% |
| Median age | 32.6 years | 43 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 32% | 29% |
MonroeNew YorkUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma11%
High school22%
Some college15%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s29%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
53% women, 47% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.8 points. Across New York, 51.2% of residents are women.
| Monroe | NY | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 16.6% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.8% | 9.5% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 12.4% | 8.9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.9% | 14.2% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.8% | 13% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 15.4% | 13.3% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.2% | 10.3% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.7% | 7.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 11% | 12% | 10.4% |
| High school | 21.5% | 24.3% | 26% |
| Some college | 14.9% | 14.6% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.9% | 8.8% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 29.3% | 22.4% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 12.3% | 17.9% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
SafetyB
Less crime per resident in Monroe than in 61% of U.S. towns
Reported crimes rose from 91 to 134 over the last three FBI years, a rise beyond ordinary year-to-year swings. At 14.5 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 51% of New York’s graded towns.
Monroe’s property crime rate is 12.7 per 1,000 residents.
61%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
| Monroe | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 12.7 per 1,000 residents | 7.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.4 per 1,000 residents | 0.8 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Monroe1.4
New York3.7
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Monroe12.7
New York15.7
U.S.15.5
61st
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
49th
percentile among NY towns
13
violent crimes reported in 2025
121
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
5.9%conserved
| Monroe | New York towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 5.9% | 5.2% | 4.3% |
5.9%
conserved · 135 of 2,263 acres
0.6 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Crane Park;Mill Ponds | 0.1 mi | 42 |
| 2. Smith Clove Park | — | 35 |
| 3. Airplane Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade D
Monroe earns a D for cost of living
$524KZillow home value
Typical home value
Monroe$524K
New York$525K
Market temperature
77
days on market
97%
sale-to-list price
−0.2%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in May
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Monroe
20pages on Monroe
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 55% of NY districtsSafetyB1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthABetter than NY on 12 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingD$524K typical home · down 0.2% in a yearWork & commuteA−$110K median household income · 2,724 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 15% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
11 within 15 miles of the center of Monroe
Uta Mesivta of Kiryas JoelUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Monroe1.7 mi$16,000 tuitionUnited States Military AcademyUniversity or college · Public · West Point12.8 miRockland Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Suffern13.7 mi$6,862 in-state tuition
About 7 of every 100 Monroe residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Monroe for work
Where Monroe’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,724jobs based in Monroe
5%of working residents work in town
21 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Monroe
5 notable people were born in Monroe.
_-_Central_Park,_NYC.jpg){kind=link}
About Monroe
Town in Orange County, New York, US
Monroe is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 21,387 at the 2020 census, compared to 39,912 at the 2010 census; the significant fall in census population was due to the secession of the town of Palm Tree in 2019. The town is named after President James Monroe.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1799
- Area
- 21 sq mi
- Area code
- 845
Monroe’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Monroe.
Walton ParkMonroe
How the neighbors grade
| Town | NY rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | #275 | B+ | D | B | B | A |
| Walton Park | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Walton Park isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Monroe with a neighbor →
Questions about Monroe
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Monroe, NY a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Monroe grades B+ overall, better than 66% of U.S. towns and #275 of 745 in New York. It grades A for health, B for safety and B for schools. Cost of living is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Monroe, NY expensive?
Yes. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades D.
What is Monroe, NY known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Mike Tobey and Gates W. McGarrah.