At a Glance
Median Income
$59,167
$32,933 per capita
Home Value
$104,300
Zillow: $269,784
Median Rent
$713/mo
17.5% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
9.9%
93.4% high school+
Unemployment
2.4%
12.3% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
40.8%
13.2% smoking rate
How Laurel Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Laurel's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Laurel a Good Place to Live?
B+
3.5 / 5.0 - Good
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Laurel residents earn a median household income of $59,167 , which is 21% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $32,933. The unemployment rate stands at 2.4% (33% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 12.3% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 699 business establishments, including 47 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Laurel is $104,300 , 63% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $269,784. Median rent is $713/month, with 17.5% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1946.
Education
9.9% of adults in Laurel hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(71% below the national average).
93.4% have completed high school. Local schools score 6.4/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Laurel has an average annual temperature of 48°F (9°C).
Winters average 19°F in January while summers reach 73°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 37.2 inches.
Data Overview
People
Population221
Median Age51.1 yrs
Density884/mi²
Male / Female58% / 42%
Foreign Born0.9%
Veterans8.2%
Economy
B+
Median Income$59,167
Per Capita$32,933
Unemployment2.4%
Poverty12.3%
County GDP$1,654M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,108
Housing
A+
Home Value$104,300
Rent$713
Ownership86.6%
Zillow$269,784
Housing Units124
Rent Burden17.5%
Health
Obesity40.8%
Diabetes8.2%
Smoking13.2%
Heart Disease4.7%
Premature Death6,568/100K
Climate
Avg Temp48°F
Rain37.2 in/yr
Elevation1,041 ft
Education
D
Bachelor's+9.9%
High School+93.4%
Graduate+1.9%
School Score6.4/10
Community
2024 VoteR 58% / D 41%
Commute30 min
Broadband87.5%
Internet Speed52 Mbps
EV Stations7
Libraries3
Did You Know?
Laurel was founded in 1880.
The median home in Laurel was built in 1946.
The nearest airport is Des Moines International (48 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.480 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Very Low" by FEMA.
19.0% of the population has a disability.
The county recorded 2 fatal vehicle crashes.