ZIP 71280 vs ZIP 71203
Source:
Sterlington, LA – Monroe, LA
This side-by-side compares ZIP 71280 (Sterlington, LA) and ZIP 71203 (Monroe, LA) using the same Census ACS 5-Year table fields for both, no averages swapped in, no national proxies. ZIP 71280 has a population of 3,647 at 22 people per square mile, while ZIP 71203 has 37,105 at 121 per square mile. That difference in population size and density alone reshapes how every other metric should be interpreted, a higher-income ZIP with 1,200 residents behaves very differently from one with 45,000.
On income and education, ZIP 71280 reports a median household income of $78,531 against $52,326 in ZIP 71203, with per-capita income of $47,350 vs $31,000. The share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher is 26.8% in 71280 and 34.0% in 71203. Poverty rate reads 22.6% vs 20.7%, and unemployment 3.7% vs 5.1% - these four fields alone drive most of the difference in the scorecard grades you will see for each ZIP.
Housing separates these two ZIPs further: median home value sits at $248,900 in 71280 versus $185,100 in 71203, with median rent of $1,103 and $1,042 per month respectively. Homeownership rate is 74.8% vs 56.3%. When reading the comparison table below, focus on paired metrics rather than single winners, a ZIP with lower home values and lower income is not strictly "worse" if rent-to-income ratios and commute times land in the same zone. Every value is pulled from the exact same ACS table so the two columns are genuinely comparable.
Compare different ZIP codes:
| Metric | 71280 Sterlington, LA | 71203 Monroe, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,647 | 37,105 |
| Median Household Income | $78,531 | $52,326 |
| Per Capita Income | $47,350 | $31,000 |
| Median Age | 40.8 | 34.5 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.8% | 34.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 22.6% | 20.7% |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 5.1% |
| Median Home Value | $248,900 | $185,100 |
| Median Rent (monthly) | $1,103 | $1,042 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.8% | 56.3% |
| Population Density (per sq mi) | 22 | 121 |
Values highlighted in green indicate the better metric where applicable. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023.
What are common questions about this comparison?
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All data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2023).
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.