Laurel, MS

Full City Profile · Mississippi · Jones County County

2.7 /5.0
C+ Fair
17,129 Population 928/sq mi density
$37,781 Median Income $27,893 per capita
$110,200 Home Value $139,483 Zillow
$839 Median Rent 39.1% income on rent
66°F Avg Temperature
1,052 Violent Crime/100K 3,871 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.7 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C
Economy
2.2 / 5.0
$37,781 median income, 5.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$110,200 home value, $839/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,052 violent crimes/100K (177% above avg)
C+
Education
2.6 / 5.0
20.4% bachelor's degree or higher

Laurel, MS

At a Glance

Median Income
$37,781
50% below
$27,893 per capita
Home Value
$110,200
61% below
Zillow: $139,483
Median Rent
$839/mo
28% below
39.1% of income on rent
Violent Crime
1,052/100K
177% above
3,871/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
20.4%
39% below
85.0% high school+
Unemployment
5.6%
56% above
25.9% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
47.4%
48% above
20.1% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
66°F

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)

Income
50%
Home Value
39%
Rent
72%
Poverty
209%
Bachelor's
61%
Unemployment
156%
Crime
277%
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)

Is Laurel a Good Place to Live?

C+
2.7 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.

Economy & Jobs

Laurel residents earn a median household income of $37,781 , which is 50% below the national average of $75,149. Per capita income is $27,893. The unemployment rate stands at 5.6% (56% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 25.9% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 1,434 business establishments, including 134 restaurants.

Housing & Cost of Living

The median home value in Laurel is $110,200 , 61% below the national median of $281,900. Zillow estimates the typical home at $139,483. Median rent is $839/month, with 39.1% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.0 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1969.

Safety & Crime

Laurel reports 1,052 violent crimes per 100,000 residents , which is 177% above the national average of 380/100K. Property crime is 3,871/100K.

Education

20.4% of adults in Laurel hold a bachelor's degree or higher (39% below the national average). 85.0% have completed high school. Local schools score 4.6/10 in standardized testing.

Climate & Weather

Laurel has an average annual temperature of 66°F (19°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 59.6 inches.

Data Overview

People

Population17,129
Median Age35.6 yrs
Density928/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born3.8%
Veterans5.3%

Economy

C
Median Income$37,781
Per Capita$27,893
Unemployment5.6%
Poverty25.9%
County GDP$3,600M
Avg Weekly Wage$916

Housing

A+
Home Value$110,200
Rent$839
Ownership61.1%
Zillow$139,483
Housing Units7,710
Rent Burden39.1%

Crime

F
Violent1,052/100K
Property3,871/100K

Health

Obesity47.4%
Diabetes17.4%
Smoking20.1%
Heart Disease7.1%
Premature Death13,749/100K

Climate

Avg Temp66°F
Rain59.6 in/yr
Elevation281 ft

Education

C+
Bachelor's+20.4%
High School+85.0%
Graduate+8.5%
School Score4.6/10

Community

2024 VoteR 73% / D 26%
Commute17 min
Broadband71.2%
Internet Speed49 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries2

Did You Know?

The median home in Laurel was built in 1969.
The nearest airport is Hattiesburg/Laurel Regional (19 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.472 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
17.2% of the population has a disability.
There are 134 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.