RANK #977 / 996 · POP 82,044 · FL
PROJECTED GROWTH: -4.3%
Monroe County, Florida, is defined by the Florida Keys, a chain of islands stretching over 100 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, with Key West serving as the county seat. This southernmost county in Florida is known for its tropical climate, clear waters, and abundant outdoor recreation. Residents and visitors enjoy activities like snorkeling and diving at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the country's first underwater state park, or exploring the sandy beaches of Bahia Honda State Park. The Overseas Highway connects the Keys, though commute times can vary. The public school district, headquartered in Key West, is considered above average.
Life in Monroe County often revolves around its unique island environment. The economy is heavily influenced by tourism, which supports a significant number of local jobs and contributes to tax revenues. This visitor-driven economy helps fund community projects and infrastructure improvements, lessening the tax burden on residents. Recent economic developments include ongoing investments in infrastructure, such as road stabilization and improvements to transportation facilities like Key West International Airport, aimed at enhancing resilience against environmental challenges. The county is also seeing proposals for new data centers, reflecting broader trends in digital infrastructure investment.
Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Prices declining
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Datacore Innovations Data Center Campus
Datacore Innovations LLC (Capital Land Group LLC)
|
$1,120M | Proposed |
|
Google Data Center
Google
|
$1,100M | Planned |
|
Monroe County Capital Improvement Program (2024-2028)
Monroe County
|
$339M | Planned |
|
Key Largo Affordable Workforce Housing Units
Gorman & Company LLC
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Monroe County has a Boom Town Index score of 2/100, ranking #977 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.0% and a median household income of $80,111, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Monroe County is $696,900 with median rent at $1,919/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.115, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.2% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.0%. Home values changed -3.4% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.67% of Monroe County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.