Macon-Bibb County receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Macon-Bibb County
Monroe
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 49%
vs40 · Bottom 19%
Growth
48 · Bottom 47%
vs42 · Bottom 37%
Climate
75 · Top 21%
vs71 · Top 34%
Physical resilience
80 · Top 15%
vs77 · Top 17%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 40%
vs88 · Bottom 33%
Access
54 · Bottom 16%
vs48 · Bottom 11%
Economic stability
22 · Bottom 12%
vs20 · Bottom 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County | Monroe | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 234,943 | 223,674 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $59,526 | $51,660 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,652 | $30,966 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 136/sq mi | 79/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $188,300 | $170,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,044 | $931 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.9% | 64.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | 1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.3% | 24.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 24.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 484 | 467 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 2.1 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.5% | 18.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 94°F | 93°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 36°F | 37°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 46.9" | 55.1" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 68 mi | 84 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.2 min | 24.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 38.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Macon-Bibb County
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Monroe
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Macon-Bibb County
61
Your Score
65
Area Score
Monroe
55
Your Score
59
Area Score
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Full profiles: Macon-Bibb County, GA Metro Area · Monroe, LA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology