Laurel, MS
Demographics And Statistics

Demographics | Crime | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2025-10-25

Living In Laurel, Mississippi Summary

Life in Laurel research summary. HomeSnacks has been using Saturday Night Science to research the quality of life in Laurel over the past nine years using Census, FBI, Zillow, and other primary data sources. Based on the most recently available data, we found the following about life in Laurel:

  • The population in Laurel is 17,129.

  • The median home value in Laurel is $139,584.

  • The median income in Laurel is $37,781.

  • The cost of living in Laurel is 82 which is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median rent in Laurel is $839.

  • The unemployment rate in Laurel is 5.6%.

  • The poverty rate in Laurel is 31.6%.

  • The average high in Laurel is 76.6° and the average low is 53.2°.

Laurel SnackAbility

5
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
4/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
8
Education
6
Commute
9

Laurel, MS Crime Report

Crime in Laurel summary. We use data from the FBI to determine the crime rates in Laurel. Key points include:

  • There were 819 total crimes in Laurel in the last reporting year.

  • The overall crime rate per 100,000 people in Laurel is 4,839.9 / 100k people.

  • The violent crime rate per 100,000 people in Laurel is 1,051.9 / 100k people.

  • The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Laurel is 3,788.0 / 100k people.

  • Overall, crime in Laurel is 128.38% above the national average.

819
Total Crimes
128.38%
Above National Average

Crime In Laurel Comparison Table

Statistic Count
Raw
Laurel
/ 100k People
Mississippi
/ 100k People
National
/ 100k People
Total Crimes Per 100K 819 4,839.9 1,573.5 2,119.2
Violent Crime 178 1,051.9 210.5 359.0
Murder 4 23.6 7.4 5.0
Robbery 16 94.6 18.5 61.0
Aggravated Assault 141 833.2 155.4 256.0
Property Crime 641 3,788.0 1,363.0 1,760.0
Burglary 121 715.0 235.2 229.0
Larceny 457 2,700.6 982.5 1,272.0
Car Theft 63 372.3 145.3 259.0

Laurel, MS Cost Of Living

Cost of living in Laurel summary. We use data on the cost of living to determine how expensive it is to live in Laurel. Real estate prices drive most of the variance in cost of living around Mississippi. Key points include:

  • The cost of living in Laurel is 82 with 100 being average.

  • The cost of living in Laurel is 0.8x lower than the national average.

  • The median home value in Laurel is $139,584.

  • The median income in Laurel is $37,781.

82
Laurel's Overall Cost Of Living
0.8x
Lower Than The National Average

Cost Of Living In Laurel Comparison Table

Living Expense Laurel Mississippi National Average
Overall 82 84 100
Services 96 90 100
Groceries 95 95 100
Health 104 96 100
Housing 56 63 100
Transportation 94 90 100
Utilities 87 85 100

Laurel, MS Weather

  • The average high in Laurel is 76.6° and the average low is 53.2°.

  • There are 72.1 days of precipitation each year.

  • Expect an average of 56.9 inches of precipitation each year with 0.0 inches of snow.

StatLaurel
Average Annual High76.6
Average Annual Low53.2
Annual Precipitation Days72.1
Average Annual Precipitation56.9
Average Annual Snowfall0.0
76.6°
Average High
72.1
Days of Rain

Laurel, MS Photos

Lauren Rogers Museum
Source: Public Domain
Noon Hourc Two Of The Young Workers In Laurel Cotton Mills
Source: Public Domain
Laurelmississippitrainstation
Source: Wikipedia User DwayneP | CC BY-SA 3.0

Rankings for Laurel in Mississippi

Locations Around Laurel

Map Of Laurel, MS

Best Places Around Laurel

1

Petal, MS
Population 11,195

2

West Hattiesburg, MS
Population 6,509

3

Forest, MS
Population 5,365

4

Hattiesburg, MS
Population 48,507

5

Waynesboro, MS
Population 4,552

Laurel Demographics And Statistics

Population over time in Laurel

The current population in Laurel is 17,129. The population has decreased -7.4% from 2010.

Year Population % Change
2023 17,129 -0.6%
2022 17,241 -0.8%
2021 17,375 -5.6%
2020 18,403 -0.6%
2019 18,508 -0.5%
2018 18,607 -0.3%
2017 18,661 -0.8%
2016 18,806 0.2%
2015 18,770 0.3%
2014 18,720 0.1%
2013 18,703 0.5%
2012 18,611 0.3%
2011 18,551 0.2%
2010 18,506 -

Race / Ethnicity in Laurel

White
28.2% (4,822)
African American
64.7% (11,081)
American Indian
0.0% (0)
Asian
0.2% (33)
Hawaiian
0.0% (0)
Other
0.0% (0)
Two Or More
0.3% (52)
Hispanic
6.7% (1,141)

Laurel is:

  • 28.2% White with 4,822 White residents.

  • 64.7% African American with 11,081 African American residents.

  • 0.0% American Indian with 0 American Indian residents.

  • 0.2% Asian with 33 Asian residents.

  • 0.0% Hawaiian with 0 Hawaiian residents.

  • 0.0% Other with 0 Other residents.

  • 0.3% Two Or More with 52 Two Or More residents.

  • 6.7% Hispanic with 1,141 Hispanic residents.

Race Laurel MS USA
White 28.2% 55.4% 58.2%
African American 64.7% 36.9% 12.0%
American Indian 0.0% 0.4% 0.5%
Asian 0.2% 1.0% 5.7%
Hawaiian 0.0% 0.0% 0.2%
Other 0.0% 0.3% 0.5%
Two Or More 0.3% 2.4% 3.9%
Hispanic 6.7% 3.6% 19.0%

Gender in Laurel

Female
51.6% (8,839)
Male
48.4% (8,290)
  • Laurel is 51.6% female with 8,839 female residents.

  • Laurel is 48.4% male with 8,290 male residents.

Gender Laurel MS USA
Female 51.6% 51.5% 50.5%
Male 48.4% 48.5% 49.5%

Highest level of educational attainment in Laurel for adults over 25

  • 6.0% of adults in Laurel completed < 9th grade.

  • 9.0% of adults in Laurel completed 9-12th grade.

  • 36.0% of adults in Laurel completed high school / ged.

  • 21.0% of adults in Laurel completed some college.

  • 7.0% of adults in Laurel completed associate's degree.

  • 13.0% of adults in Laurel completed bachelor's degree.

  • 4.0% of adults in Laurel completed master's degree.

  • 3.0% of adults in Laurel completed professional degree.

  • 1.0% of adults in Laurel completed doctorate degree.

< 9th Grade
6.0% (1,027)
9-12th Grade
9.0% (1,541)
High School / GED
36.0% (6,166)
Some College
21.0% (3,597)
Associate's Degree
7.0% (1,199)
Bachelor's Degree
13.0% (2,226)
Master's Degree
4.0% (685)
Professional Degree
3.0% (513)
Doctorate Degree
1.0% (171)
Education Laurel MS USA
< 9th Grade 6.0% 4.0% 5.0%
9-12th Grade 9.0% 9.0% 6.0%
High School / GED 36.0% 30.0% 26.0%
Some College 21.0% 22.0% 19.0%
Associate's Degree 7.0% 11.0% 9.0%
Bachelor's Degree 13.0% 15.0% 21.0%
Master's Degree 4.0% 7.0% 10.0%
Professional Degree 3.0% 1.0% 2.0%
Doctorate Degree 1.0% 1.0% 2.0%

Household Income For Laurel, Mississippi

  • 12.6% of households in Laurel earn Less than $10,000.

  • 9.2% of households in Laurel earn $10,000 to $14,999.

  • 17.8% of households in Laurel earn $15,000 to $24,999.

  • 8.2% of households in Laurel earn $25,000 to $34,999.

  • 15.8% of households in Laurel earn $35,000 to $49,999.

  • 10.9% of households in Laurel earn $50,000 to $74,999.

  • 6.9% of households in Laurel earn $75,000 to $99,999.

  • 10.7% of households in Laurel earn $100,000 to $149,999.

  • 3.5% of households in Laurel earn $150,000 to $199,999.

  • 4.4% of households in Laurel earn $200,000 or more.

Less than $10,000
12.6% (216,287)
$10,000 to $14,999
9.2% (157,087)
$15,000 to $24,999
17.8% (304,827)
$25,000 to $34,999
8.2% (141,248)
$35,000 to $49,999
15.8% (270,553)
$50,000 to $74,999
10.9% (187,206)
$75,000 to $99,999
6.9% (117,361)
$100,000 to $149,999
10.7% (183,052)
$150,000 to $199,999
3.5% (59,459)
$200,000 or more
4.4% (75,817)
Income Laurel MS USA
Less than $10,000 12.6% 7.1% 4.9%
$10,000 to $14,999 9.2% 6.3% 3.6%
$15,000 to $24,999 17.8% 10.6% 6.6%
$25,000 to $34,999 8.2% 9.4% 6.8%
$35,000 to $49,999 15.8% 13.0% 10.4%
$50,000 to $74,999 10.9% 16.6% 15.7%
$75,000 to $99,999 6.9% 12.0% 12.7%
$100,000 to $149,999 10.7% 13.8% 17.4%
$150,000 to $199,999 3.5% 6.0% 9.3%
$200,000 or more 4.4% 5.3% 12.6%

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