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Laurel, DE

Full City Profile · Delaware · Sussex County County

2.1 /5.0
C Fair
4,043 Population 1,460/sq mi density
$44,593 Median Income $19,301 per capita
$192,700 Home Value $301,641 Zillow
$924 Median Rent 36.9% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
1,387 Violent Crime/100K 5,035 property/100K
C
Overall
2.1 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
D
Economy
1.8 / 5.0
$44,593 median income, 7.7% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.2 / 5.0
$192,700 home value, $924/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,387 violent crimes/100K (265% above avg)
D
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Laurel experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches. The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average35°F (1°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation36 ft (11 m)
Area2.8 sq mi (7.2 km²)
Population Density1,460/sq mi
Coordinates38.5715°N, 75.5711°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySussex County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
16 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall 12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0463 ppm
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.20 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score94.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability70.4 / 100
Community Resilience59.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

9 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 105 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 120 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 136 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 120 km
Jan 13, 1990 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland M2.6 148 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 128 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 149 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 75 km
Mar 10, 1993 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland M2.5 135 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

11 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 2 211 km
2012 Sandy Category 1 209 km
2011 Irene Category 1 72 km
2010 Earl Category 1 300 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 280 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 202 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 236 km
1993 Emily Category 3 232 km
1991 Bob Category 3 189 km
1986 Charley Category 1 134 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 95 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

183 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 91 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 22 km 1
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 66 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 94 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 60 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 21 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 55 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 2 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 80 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 50 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 91 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 50 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 25 km 0
Oct 13, 1983 EF2 90 km 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 68 km 2
Jun 27, 1978 EF2 97 km 0
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 52 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 79 km 0
Oct 2, 1973 EF2 98 km 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 68 km 0
Jul 30, 1971 EF2 69 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 140 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 43 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 48 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 47 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 44 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 41 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 41 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 47 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 46 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 46 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 41 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 41 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 41 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 40 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 41 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 48 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 48 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 43 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 93 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 50 km
2014 RAILROAD 1,431 93 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (1°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 37°F (3°C) 3.1 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 4.3 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 64°F (18°C) 3.9 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest, Wettest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.3 in
September 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.3 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.5 in

Laurel has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").

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