Signals
Monroe
Salisbury
Opportunity
66 · Top 29%
vs47 · Bottom 30%
Climate
76 · Top 26%
vs77 · Top 24%
Physical resilience
37 · Bottom 30%
vs63 · Top 45%
Housing affordability
80 · Bottom 49%
vs69 · Bottom 33%
Schools
27 · Bottom 20%
vs7 · Bottom 1%
Access
86 · Bottom 32%
vs77 · Bottom 19%
Economic stability
55 · Bottom 39%
vs29 · Bottom 6%
Measured values
| Metric | Monroe | Salisbury | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 36,759 | 35,825 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,540 | $53,716 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $31,089 | $32,043 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,142/sq mi | 1,551/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $309,100 | $242,500 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,246 | $1,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 61.6% | 51.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 4.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.8% | -0.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.1% | 29.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 13.3% | 26.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 91°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 32°F | 29°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.9" | 43.7" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 26 mi | 41 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.9 min | 23.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.5 | 36.5 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 14 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.27 | 17.99 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 31.7% | 16.9% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 32.2% | 27.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 71.9% | 98.1% | 2024-25 school 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
Monroe
Elevated or high exposure: inland flooding.
Salisbury
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Monroe, NC · Salisbury, NC · How this is calculated: methodology