Central vs Monroe
Central, Louisiana versus Monroe, Louisiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Monroe edges out Central on overall objective livability (48 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Central | Monroe |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $83k | $37k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $44k |
| Home Value | $266k | $158k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $790 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.66% | 0.47% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 9.56% | 9.56% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.56% | 9.48% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% | 10.7% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 52°F | 47°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 83°F | 83°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 66.0 in | 55.1 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.6 in |
| Sunny Days | 254 days | 257 days |
| Summer Humidity | 72°F | 73°F |
| Comfortable Days | 106 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 92.8 | 41.2 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 47 AQI |
| School Quality | 62.5 | 56.3 |
| Violent Crime | 1927/100k | 5359/100k |
| Property Crime | 4353/100k | 6752/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 29,518 | 47,631 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 34.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.29 | 0.51 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.91 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+24 |
| White (%) | 83.0% | 33.5% |
| Black (%) | 8.4% | 61.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 2.0% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 31 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 5.5/20 | 8.4/20 |
| Airport Distance | 61 mi | 205 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.0% | 74.2% |
| Amenities Nearby | 9.82 | 22.67 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Central or Monroe more affordable?
- Monroe has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Central's $49k and Monroe's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Central versus $790 in Monroe.
- Is Central or Monroe safer?
- Central has the lower violent crime rate. Central reports 1927/100k and Monroe reports 5359/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Central or Monroe?
- The median home value is $266k in Central and $158k in Monroe, so homes are more affordable in Monroe.