The typical owner-occupied home in Monroe County is worth about $210,000, 21% below the Wisconsin median of $266,500 and 37% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,826 a year in property taxes, about 1.35% of their home's value, lower than the Wisconsin rate of 1.42%. The median household earns $69,467 a year, so the median home costs 3.0 times the median income (3.4 times for Wisconsin). 73% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 55% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Monroe County at a glance
| Monroe County | Wisconsin | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,000 | $266,500 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,826 | $3,792 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 1.35% | 1.42% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $69,467 | $77,485 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 73% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 55% | 61% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,487 | $1,689 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 19.2% | 19.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $914 | $1,087 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.7% | 27.2% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1980 | 1975 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.6% | 10.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 46,208 | 5,914,872 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Monroe County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Monroe County home of $210,000 with 20% down costs about $1,454 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,804, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $62,310 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 25% of the median Monroe County household income of $69,467; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $234,000.
The median rent here is $914 a month, so owning the median home costs about $540 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $42,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $168,000 |
| Principal and interest | $1,130 |
| Property taxes (1.35% a year) | $236 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $88 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $1,454 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $7,350 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $206,196 |
| Principal and interest | $1,387 |
| Property taxes (1.35% a year) | $236 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $88 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $93 |
| Total per month | $1,804 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Monroe County
What is the median home value in Monroe County?
About $210,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Monroe County?
Homeowners pay a median $2,826 a year, which is about 1.35% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in Monroe County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,454 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $62,310 a year.
More about Monroe County
- Mortgage Refinance in Monroe County
- Debt Relief in Monroe County
- Home Equity Loans in Monroe County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data