What it's like to live in Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a small city in North Carolina with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, 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. Laurinburg deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, college degree attainment below the national average, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Laurinburg compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Laurinburg
Based on Laurinburg's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,548
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $30,960 a year
- 48% of Laurinburg renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$26,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $13,420
- Homes cost 3.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 45% below US
$774/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $774 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $134,200. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $134,200 · 48% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
5.3% county unemployment
Unemployment in Scotland County is 5.3%, somewhat above the national average of 4.3%. Lining up work before the move is the safer route. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Scotland County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 283% above US
1262 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 4393/100k · Laurinburg Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 35°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 44% below US
20% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 20%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 2 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 Moores Creek National Battlefield (80 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Laurinburg's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($774/mo) equals 22% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
See all the data for Laurinburg →·All North Carolina cities →
Other places near Laurinburg
All North Carolina guides →Moving to Pinehurst →
30 mi away · pop. 18,256
Rent $1,664/mo · Income $109,802
Compare with Laurinburg →Moving to Southern Pines →
30 mi away · pop. 16,420
Rent $1,354/mo · Income $88,535
Compare with Laurinburg →Moving to Hope Mills →
33 mi away · pop. 17,939
Rent $1,141/mo · Income $65,774
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