What it's like to live in Laurel
Laurel is a small city in Maryland with household incomes running above the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Laurel deals with rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Above-average commute times
How Laurel compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Laurel
Based on Laurel's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,746
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $74,920 a year
- 44% of Laurel renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$77,100
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $38,550
- Homes cost 3.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 33% above US
$1,873/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,873 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $385,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $385,500 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
350 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 3907/100k · Laurel Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 19% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.9 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 87°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 33% above US
48% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 48% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Baltimore-Washington Parkway (5 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Laurel's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and commute times longer than most cities. A year of median rent ($1,873/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home) and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Laurel
All Maryland guides →Moving to North Laurel →
2 mi away · pop. 25,563
Rent $2,031/mo · Income $122,949
Compare with Laurel →Moving to Maryland City →
2 mi away · pop. 19,186
Rent $2,421/mo · Income $117,337
Compare with Laurel →Moving to Burtonsville →
4 mi away · pop. 10,203
Rent $2,358/mo · Income $134,276
Compare with Laurel →Not sure Laurel is the one?
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