West Monroe 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
West Monroe
Opportunity
55 · Bottom 47%
vs50 · Bottom 37%
Growth
43 · Bottom 36%
vs34 · Bottom 23%
Climate
75 · Top 30%
vs71 · Top 45%
Physical resilience
85 · Top 17%
vs87 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
79 · Bottom 48%
vs85 · Top 42%
Access
52 · Bottom 4%
vs49 · Bottom 4%
Economic stability
27 · Bottom 5%
vs29 · Bottom 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County | West Monroe | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 156,578 | 12,729 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $51,234 | $49,386 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,699 | $26,082 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 628/sq mi | 1,586/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $174,500 | $192,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,066 | $826 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.4% | 44.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% | 4.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 1.2% | 1.4% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.3% | 22.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 24.7% | 26.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 137 | 13 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.9 | 1.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -8.1% | -64.9% | 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 | 71 mi | 85 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.7 min | 20.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 36.8 | 35.4 | 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.
West 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
56
Your Score
60
Area Score
West Monroe
58
Your Score
62
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Macon-Bibb County, GA · West Monroe, LA · How this is calculated: methodology