The city of West Monroe lies directly across the Ouachita River from its sister city, Monroe. While residents of the region often refer to West Monroe as the entire area west of the river, the city itself is a smaller portion. “We’re about 8.5 square miles, so we’re pretty small comparatively to what we call the west side of Ouachita Parish,” says Courtney Hornsby, the chief of staff for West Monroe’s mayor, Staci Albritton Mitchell. “A lot of people would identify as living in West Monroe, even if they don’t live within the city limits.” The Monroe-West Monroe area anchors Northeast Louisiana, with a population of over 200,000 in the metropolitan area. West Monroe is smaller and more quaint than its neighbor, with around 12,000 residents compared to roughly 50,000 in Monroe. While Monroe is a destination for work and entertainment, West Monroe’s parks, established neighborhoods and highly rated schools mean people often choose to live across the river.
In West Monroe, the city spans just eight-and-a-half square miles.
West Monroe is known for its parks and small-town charm.
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Midcentury-era homes in downtown West Monroe
West Monroe’s median housing price is $222,000, on pace with Monroe’s median and lower than the national figure of $407,200. Neighborhoods within the city limits are laid out on gridded streets and were often built up in the 1940s and 1950s. Craftsman cottages sit closer to downtown, while neighborhoods a little further out frequently feature ranch-style homes. “Most of the homes here are well-established and have been here for many years,” Hornsby says. “You can’t replace the trees. They’re huge and they’re gorgeous, and you can’t just find them anywhere you go.”
In West Monroe traditional brick homes define many of the older neighborhoods.
West Monroe’s newer neighborhoods showcase homes with modern stucco design.
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Highly rated Ouachita Parish Schools
The Ouachita Parish Schools district serves West Monroe. The system receives a B-plus grade from Niche, which ranks it as one of the top 10 districts for athletes in Louisiana. “It’s a very strong sports community,” says Harrison Lilly, leader of the Harrison Lilly team of THLT Realty and resident of West Monroe. “If your kid’s really good at sports and wants college recognition, West Monroe High School is one place parents send their kids.” Students can continue their education at the University of Louisiana Monroe or Louisiana Delta Community College, each located across the river in Monroe.
West Monroe High School's athletic program is ranked 8th in the state of Louisiana.
West Monroe students graduate with options like the University of Louisiana Monroe.
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Kiroli Park's historic destination for recreation
West Monroe has focused on the city’s parks and recreation offerings, enhancing old parks and adding new opportunities. The area’s flagship park, Kiroli Park, turns 100 years old in 2025 and has features including an expansive circus-themed playground and a dog park divided for larger and smaller dogs. “There’s a lot of history in Kiroli Park,” Hornsby says. “It actually used to be a Boy Scouts camp before the city took it over in the 1990s.” Meanwhile, the city’s newest addition is the West Monroe Sports and Events Center, which opened in 2024. “The original intent was for the facility to be built for sports tourism — travel basketball, travel volleyball, all that,” Hornsby says. “However, one of the unintended but really cool consequences of that is we’ve seen the cultivation of a lot of local sports leagues, too.”
The West Monroe Sports and Events Center has become a hub for local sports leagues.
Kiroli Park in West Monroe has roots dating back to 1925 with local civic groups.
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Commuting across the river to Monroe
Many West Monroe residents commute across the Ouachita to Monroe for work, and commutes are generally a quick drive. “Depending on where you live, it’s five to 10 minutes, and you’re over the bridge into the central business district,” Lilly says. Employers include the St. Francis Medical Center and the University of Louisiana Monroe, though tech companies like Meta are moving to Northeast Louisiana to open data centers and related support infrastructure. While the West Ouachita Public Transit system offers pickups and drop-offs scheduled in advance, residents are car-dependent. Interstate 20 cuts through the middle of the city, the main corridor through North Louisiana. The Monroe Regional Airport is roughly 8 miles away, with daily flights to Dallas/Fort Worth and Atlanta.
Brisket at JAC's in Antique Alley
The areas around Interstate 20 and Cypress Street in West Monroe have the standard restaurant chains and big box stores. But downtown, local shops and restaurants populate Trenton Street, better known as Antique Alley for the row of antique stores that used to populate the block. Restaurants include JAC’s Craft Smokehouse, the city’s top spot for barbecue. “In my opinion — and I’m a foodie — JAC’s has the best brisket I’ve ever had in my entire life,” Lilly says.
Antique Alley is filled with charming local antique shops.
JAC’s Craft Smokehouse is West Monroe's top spot for barbecue.
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Antique Alley's community events
Antique Alley is also the epicenter of West Monroe’s community events. The area offers live music in the warmer months and hosts the Ouachita RiverFest every spring, which features what it claims to be the world’s largest rubber duck. The Ike Hamilton Expo Center often organizes rodeos and monster truck rallies.
Antique Alley in West Monroe is a beloved destination, featuring a variety of unique antique shops and boutiques.
West Monroe's Ike Hamilton Expo Center hosts rodeos and monster truck rallies.
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Crime higher than national average, but decreasing
According to data reported to the FBI by the West Monroe Police Department, the city’s property and violent crime rates are each higher than the national and state averages. While violent crime has been steady over the past five years, property crime has steadily decreased in the timeframe.
West Monroe’s climate includes hot, humid summers and mild winters typical of the Deep South. Oppressive heat can be an issue over the summer, with heat indices often reaching upwards of 100 degrees, especially in July and August. While flooding can be a risk — a subset of properties are in FEMA-designated high-risk flood zones and require owners to purchase flood insurance — much of the city is protected by the city’s levees on the Ouachita River.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
