Monroe County, Pennsylvania Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 20th-largest in Pennsylvania

The population of Monroe County, Pennsylvania is 167,784 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 20th-largest county in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $82,374, the median home value is $241,200, and the median age is 43.9.

The population of Monroe County has declined 2.0% since 2010 (169,852 → 166,523), a -0.14% annualized rate.

Monroe County within Pennsylvania · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

167,784

Population

-0.14%

Annual growth

276

People / sq mi

$82,374

Median Income

$241,200

Median Home Value

Monroe County covers 608 sq mi of land at 275.8 people per square mile.

About Monroe County, PA

Monroe County is distinguished by its share of foreign-born residents, 48.1% of the population. With 167,784 residents, Monroe County is a county in Pennsylvania. It ranks #20 among counties in Pennsylvania by population.

Median household income is $82,374, near the US median of $78,538. Poverty runs at 8.7%, below the national 12.4%. The median home value is $241,200, with typical rent around $1,347.

About 27.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, below the 35.0% national figure. Remote work is below the national 14.0% at 9.9%, and the average commute runs about 39 minutes each way.

The large foreign-born share is a defining thread in Monroe County, shaping language, household composition, and the labor force behind the economic figures above.

Monroe County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Monroe County had a population of 169,852 in 2010 and 166,523 in 2024, a -2.0% growth over 14 years. The peak was 170,083 in 2019. Average annual growth rate: -0.14%.

Monroe County population, 2010–2024 · Source: U.S. Census Bureau — decennial census & Population Estimates

166,523

Population (2024)

169,852

Population (2010)

170,083

Peak (2019)

-0.14%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	169,852	-	-	estimate
2011	169,921	+69	+0.04%	estimate
2012	168,675	-1,246	-0.73%	estimate
2013	167,435	-1,240	-0.74%	estimate
2014	167,387	-48	-0.03%	estimate
2015	166,602	-785	-0.47%	estimate
2016	166,324	-278	-0.17%	estimate
2017	168,033	+1,709	+1.03%	estimate
2018	169,524	+1,491	+0.89%	estimate
2019	170,083	+559	+0.33%	estimate
2020	168,326	-1,757	-1.03%	estimate
2021	168,708	+382	+0.23%	estimate
2022	167,437	-1,271	-0.75%	estimate
2023	166,581	-856	-0.51%	estimate
2024	166,523	-58	-0.03%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	66.5%
Black or African American	14.0%
Asian	0.0%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1.6%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

43.9

Median Age

49.9%

Female

50.1%

Male

18.9%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

4.7%

5–9

5.0%

10–14

5.9%

15–19

6.6%

20–24

6.5%

25–34

11.5%

35–44

11.3%

45–54

13.3%

55–59

8.6%

60–64

7.8%

65–74

11.9%

75–84

5.2%

85+

1.8%

Children (under 15): 15.6% · Seniors (65+): 18.9%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$82,374+$6,293 vs state
Mean household income	$100,240
Per-capita income	$37,512
Poverty rate	8.7%+0.6% vs state
Unemployment rate	3.8%
Employment-to-population	56.2%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

23.6%

Manufacturing

10.9%

Education & health care

10.3%

Finance & real estate

9.5%

Retail trade

8.0%

Construction

6.9%

Information

5.0%

Arts, entertainment & food

4.3%

The largest employment sector in Monroe County is professional & business services, accounting for 23.6% of workers.

How residents commute

3.3%

Drive alone

1.3%

Carpool

74.2%

Public transit

9.9%

Work from home

39.0 min

Avg commute

Housing

$241,200+$700 vs state

Median home value

$1,347

Median rent

79.5%

Homeownership rate

79,458

Total housing units

76.2%

Occupied

23.8%

Vacant

20.5%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

93.5%

With health insurance

95.2%

With broadband internet

48.1%

Foreign-born

7.3%

Veterans (18+)

14.6%

With a disability

83.5%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

90.3%

High School+

27.9%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia (1,582,432)Pittsburgh (303,620)Allentown (125,320)Reading (94,836)Erie (94,156)Bethlehem (77,069)Scranton (76,074)Lancaster (57,683)Levittown (50,930)Harrisburg (50,092)All Pennsylvania cities →

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County (1,582,432)Allegheny County (1,240,476)Montgomery County (861,225)Bucks County (645,993)Delaware County (576,195)Lancaster County (555,151)Chester County (540,896)York County (459,312)Berks County (429,989)Lehigh County (375,408)All Pennsylvania counties →

Part of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania demographic profile All Pennsylvania data →

Metro areas in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia (6,241,882)Pittsburgh (2,443,921)Allentown (866,764)Harrisburg (597,894)Scranton (567,887)Lancaster (555,151)York (459,312)Reading (429,989)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Monroe County, Pennsylvania has a population of 167,784 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 20th-largest county in Pennsylvania. Population density is 276 people per square mile.

The population of Monroe County has declined 2.0% since 2010 (169,852 → 166,523), a -0.14% annualized rate.

The median household income in Monroe County, Pennsylvania is $82,374, with mean (average) household income of $100,240 and per-capita income of $37,512. 8.7% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Monroe County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (66.5%), Black or African American (14.0%), Hispanic or Latino (1.6%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Monroe County, Pennsylvania is 43.9 years. Residents are 49.9% female and 50.1% male.

The median home value in Monroe County is $241,200 and median monthly rent is $1,347. 79.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 79,458 total housing units, 23.8% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Monroe County, Pennsylvania is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 23.6% of workers. The unemployment rate is 3.8%.

Philadelphia is among the largest cities associated with Monroe County, Pennsylvania, with a population of 1,582,432.