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Living in
North Laurel.
North Laurel is an unincorporated community in Howard County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in North Laurel
This is a solidly middle to upper-middle class suburb with real affordability compared to some nearby areas, though housing prices have climbed considerably. The $450,100 median home value and $2,031 median rent reflect the DC metro region's broader trends—you're paying for proximity to major job centers and established infrastructure rather than specific local character. The 28.5-minute average commute is reasonable for the region, though it assumes you're heading toward those job centers; your actual commute depends heavily on where you work.
North Laurel at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
4.7%
Foreign-Born
31.9%
Broadband Internet
97.0%
of households
Population Growth
+1.3%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics31.9% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in North Laurel: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In North Laurel, the largest foreign-born group is from India (11.2%), and 14.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.1%
of residents
65 and Older
10.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
34.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.5%
of households
Married Couples
49.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.90
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 19% above MD average
Rent, home values, and income in North Laurel
In North Laurel, rent runs 19% above the MD average, and home values are 7% above the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
38.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
17.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.5
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,554
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
62.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1994
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below MD average
Unemployment in North Laurel
Unemployment in Howard County, which includes North Laurel, is 0.5 percentage points lower than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
North Laurel: Howard County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Howard County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What North Laurel Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute27.7 min avg
How North Laurel residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In North Laurel, most residents drive alone to work (62%), and 55% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 10 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 65% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Howard County Police Department, which covers North Laurel, runs 65% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
116.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,483
per 100,000 residents
About average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Howard County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 26 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
72.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Howard County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Howard County, which includes North Laurel, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 26 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | Winter Weather | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Winter Weather | $3.0M |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $291,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | Winter Weather | $1.0M |
| 2021 | 27 | Thunderstorm Wind | $126,500 |
| 2020 | 36 | Dense Fog | $246,500 |
| 2019 | 47 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 47 | Dense Fog | $10.5M |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Howard County, county-wide
Air Quality33 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Howard County, which includes North Laurel, is typically good — 293 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
33
Good Days
293
per year
Moderate Days
72
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Howard County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
North Laurel has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
69°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
45°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.4"
Annual Snowfall
15.8"
Hot Days/Year
36
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
86
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
112
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 26°F | 3.46" |
| Feb | 46°F | 28°F | 2.73" |
| Mar | 55°F | 35°F | 4.20" |
| Apr | 67°F | 45°F | 3.80" |
| May | 76°F | 55°F | 4.41" |
| Jun | 84°F | 65°F | 4.38" |
| Jul | 89°F | 69°F | 4.17" |
| Aug | 87°F | 68°F | 3.80" |
| Sep | 80°F | 61°F | 4.70" |
| Oct | 69°F | 50°F | 4.41" |
| Nov | 57°F | 39°F | 3.52" |
| Dec | 47°F | 31°F | 3.93" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in North Laurel
Uninsured
9.6%
of residents
No hospitals inside North Laurel's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Columbia
Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Ctr, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9.4 mi away · Lanham
Medstar Montgomery Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.5 mi away · Olney
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.6:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in North Laurel
North Laurel's student/teacher ratio is 12.6:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 53.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
4
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
53.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near North Laurel (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland Global Campus
14 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 49,664 students · in-state tuition $8,280 · 32% graduate · median earnings $68,110 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
10.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-Baltimore County
12.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,701 students · in-state tuition $13,679 · 71% graduate · median earnings $74,881 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 6,649 students · in-state tuition $4,146 · 21% graduate · median earnings $53,227 (10 yrs after entry)
The Catholic University of America
14.9 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,154 students · in-state tuition $60,414 · 78% graduate · median earnings $81,308 (10 yrs after entry)
Washington Adventist University
12.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 452 students · in-state tuition $26,604 · 53% graduate · median earnings $61,426 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Baltimore-Washington Parkway, 6 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for North Laurel
North Laurel has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Baltimore-Washington Parkway (6 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Baltimore-Washington Parkway
Parkway
6 mi awayGreenbelt Park
Park
10 mi awayCivil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
14 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
15 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
16 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
17 mi awayCapitol Hill Parks
National Park Site
17 mi awayCarter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
17 mi awayPublic Libraries in North Laurel
Savage Branch
9525 Durness Lane, Laurel
Cities Near North Laurel
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to North Laurel?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
North Laurel FAQ
Is North Laurel, Maryland affordable?⌄
North Laurel's median rent is $2,031/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $122,949/year. Median home value is $450,100.
Is North Laurel, Maryland safe?⌄
North Laurel is policed by the Howard County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 116 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1483 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in North Laurel, Maryland?⌄
Howard County, which includes North Laurel, has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in North Laurel, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in North Laurel is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,031/month and median household income is $122,949/year. The median home value is $450,100. About 38% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in North Laurel, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in North Laurel is 28 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from