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West Laurel, MD

Full City Profile · Maryland · Howard County County

3.9 /5.0
B+ Good
4,231 Population 1,872/sq mi density
$160,692 Median Income $59,453 per capita
$487,200 Home Value $472,744 Zillow
57°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
593 Violent Crime/100K 3,522 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.9 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.9 / 5.0
$160,692 median income, 2.6% unemployment
A+
Affordability
5.0 / 5.0
$487,200 home value, /mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
593 violent crimes/100K (56% above avg)
A+
Education
4.7 / 5.0
46.8% bachelor's degree or higher
West Laurel enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 57°F (14°C). Winters average 34°F in January while summers reach 79°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 47.5 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

34°F Jan (1°C) 79°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average57.1°F
6% above US avg
January Average34°F (1°C)
July Average79°F (26°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation339 ft (103 m)
Area2.3 sq mi (5.9 km²)
Population Density1,872/sq mi
Coordinates39.1157°N, 76.8923°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyHoward County County
Nearest AirportBaltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI)
13 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 47.5"
25% above US avg
Wettest Month (May) 4.57"
Driest Month (Feb) 2.91"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)20.7 ppb
CO (Carbon Monoxide)0.26 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.1 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score72.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability10.6 / 100
Community Resilience92.9 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

22 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.6. Most recent: M2.6 on Jun 25, 2021.

Jul 16, 2010 5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland M3.6 48 km
Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 127 km
Jun 3, 2010 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M3.1 108 km
Jan 17, 2016 3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia M3.0 84 km
Nov 14, 1997 0 km S of Rothsville, Pennsylvania M3.0 127 km
Apr 24, 2009 1 km S of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.9 106 km
Sep 15, 2019 5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania M2.8 90 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 135 km
Oct 25, 2009 4 km ENE of Franklintown, Pennsylvania M2.8 109 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 13 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 33 km
Mar 11, 1995 0 km ENE of Landisville, Pennsylvania M2.7 117 km
Jan 25, 2015 4 km ESE of Downingtown, Pennsylvania M2.6 144 km
Jan 13, 1990 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland M2.6 34 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 26 km
Jan 18, 1994 3 km SE of Clay, Pennsylvania M2.6 133 km
Oct 28, 1996 2 km W of Reinholds, Pennsylvania M2.6 143 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 149 km
Jul 27, 1997 5 km SSE of Culpeper, Virginia M2.5 122 km
Sep 29, 1997 Virginia M2.5 58 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

5 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Irene (2011, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2011 Irene Category 1 200 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 278 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 267 km
1986 Charley Category 1 241 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 222 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

492 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 9 fatalities, 385 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 28, 2002 EF4 68 km 3
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 93 km 0
Sep 24, 2001 EF3 22 km 2
Jul 19, 1996 EF3 43 km 0
May 22, 1983 EF3 72 km 0
Jun 7, 1980 EF3 91 km 0
Sep 5, 1979 EF3 41 km 1
Jan 26, 1978 EF3 77 km 1
Apr 1, 1973 EF3 52 km 0
Jun 9, 1961 EF3 25 km 0
Apr 5, 1952 EF3 77 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 39 km 0
Nov 2, 2018 EF2 35 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 50 km 0
Sep 18, 2004 EF2 79 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 87 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 56 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 65 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 72 km 0
Sep 17, 2004 EF2 95 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

1 wildfire (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: NCO (816 ac, 1999).

Year Name Acres Distance
1999 NCO 816 76 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 34°F (1°C) 3.3 in Coldest
February 35°F (2°C) 2.9 in Driest
March 44°F (7°C) 3.9 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.5 in
May 63°F (17°C) 4.6 in Wettest
June 72°F (22°C) 3.8 in
July 79°F (26°C) 4.2 in Warmest
August 75°F (24°C) 3.9 in
September 68°F (20°C) 4.1 in
October 57°F (14°C) 3.5 in
November 47°F (8°C) 3.7 in
December 38°F (3°C) 3.4 in

West Laurel has a seasonal temperature swing of 45°F / from 34°F in January to 79°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.7 inches, with May being the wettest month (4.6") and February the driest (2.9").

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