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This may sound ridiculous, but I wouldn't doubt that Monroe is leading partially because it gets name recognition from Duck Dynasty (I know, it's in Left Monroe).

It's not ridiculous at all & probably is the case.

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I wouldn't doubt a few people look at that and think, "hey, that's where they film Duck Dynasty. It must be a cool town!" and select it. Heck, just look at Funroe's Wikipedia page:

Yes, Monroe and West Monroe are extremely different places these days. WM has grown tremendously over the past many years, mainly out of necessity. It is really very nice - some great restaurants, beautiful homes & of course, home of the Robertsons & Duck Commander!!

(DC store really is a cool place & great duck calls.)
West Monroe schools are very good, as well, & WMHS is exceptional in academics & athletics. Their football facilities are like a small university's.

Monroe's crime rate has steadily increased for years. It wasn't nearly as bad when I was younger. It's very sad to me considering I grew up going there from the time I was a very young child, and have tons of great memories. That was our "go to" place for dining, movies, concerts, clubs, shopping, pretty much everything. Many of my friends went to NLU (now ULM), which has excellent nursing & pharmacology programs. We had a blast going to our older friends' college parties while still in hs. (Thought we were hot shite.

) People from my hometown used to joke about us maybe having "dual residency" because of how much time we all spent there.

I visited Monroe/WM a few months ago, and while it's great how much West Monroe has grown, and how nice it is, it was bittersweet to be in Monroe. Some of my favorite restaurants are still there (Mohawk & Warehouse), and ULM seems to be doing ok, but a good bit of downtown looks and is very different. All of the growth (restaurants & retail stores) is east of Monroe, off of I-20 by the mall. That's where the huge, new(er) Ouachita High School is, as well. Beautiful school, btw.

Fayetteville, on the other hand, has changed & grown through the years, for the better. It has always been an extremely nice, picturesque true college town, though, even in the Dinosaur Age when I was going to school there. I'd never even think to compare it to Monroe, then or now. They're very different places. I like both cities for very different reasons & in different ways, but there is no doubt which is the the nicer of the two, even though I am completely biased toward the home of UofA & the Hogs.