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Living in
Laurel.
Laurel is an unincorporated community in Henrico County, VA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Laurel
Living in this western Henrico County community means joining a moderately sized, diverse suburb of about 18,000 people that's quietly stable and genuinely affordable compared to surrounding Richmond-area options. The median home value sits around $283,600 with median rent at $1,616 a month, which is accessible without requiring dual six-figure incomes—and the 3.3% unemployment rate suggests steady job availability in the region, though many residents commute into Richmond proper (average 20-minute drive). You're getting a solidly middle-class vibe: about 37% of households are married couples, a quarter of residents have college degrees, and there's real demographic diversity with significant African American and Asian communities that shape local character and food options.
Laurel at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
8.4%
Foreign-Born
21.3%
Broadband Internet
93.1%
of households
Population Growth
+3.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics21.3% foreign-born, most often from Afghanistan
Who lives in Laurel: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Laurel, the largest foreign-born group is from Afghanistan (10.9%), and 11.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.0%
of residents
65 and Older
11.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
30.5%
of households
Married Couples
34.9%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.49
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 about average for VA
Rent, home values, and income in Laurel
In Laurel, home values are 26% below the VA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,036
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
51.8%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.0%
of housing units
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for VA
Unemployment in Laurel and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Henrico County, which includes Laurel, is close to the VA average.
Unemployment rate
Laurel: Henrico County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Henrico County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Laurel Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Richmond, VA metro area
Commute24 min avg
How Laurel residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Laurel, most residents drive alone to work (70%), and 75% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 14 mi
Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Medium hub2.5M passengers boarded in 2025
- 88 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M 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 52% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Henrico County Police Department, which covers Laurel, runs 52% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
158.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,805.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Henrico County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
83.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Henrico County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Henrico County, which includes Laurel, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $280,500 |
| 2024 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $42,540 |
| 2023 | 8 | Flash Flood | $12,000 |
| 2022 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $10,000 |
| 2021 | 17 | Heavy Rain | $97,000 |
| 2020 | 13 | Heavy Rain | $11,000 |
| 2019 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,000 |
| 2018 | 30 | Heavy Rain | $54,000 |
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.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Henrico County, county-wide
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Henrico County, which includes Laurel, is typically good — 276 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
276
per year
Moderate Days
88
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Henrico County, county-wide
Climate87°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Laurel has warm summers (avg high 87°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
69°/45°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
87°/66°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/48°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
50°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.1"
Annual Snowfall
14.7"
Hot Days/Year
43
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
88
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 28°F | 3.48" |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 2.87" |
| Mar | 59°F | 36°F | 3.89" |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 3.43" |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 4.33" |
| Jun | 85°F | 63°F | 4.14" |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 3.98" |
| Aug | 87°F | 66°F | 4.93" |
| Sep | 81°F | 59°F | 4.04" |
| Oct | 70°F | 48°F | 3.65" |
| Nov | 60°F | 38°F | 3.39" |
| Dec | 51°F | 31°F | 3.68" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Laurel
Uninsured
12.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Laurel's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Henrico Doctors' Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Richmond
Bon Secours St Marys Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.4 mi away · Richmond
Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.6 mi away · Mechanicsville
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Laurel
Laurel's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 29.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
6
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
29.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Laurel (within 15 miles)
Virginia Commonwealth University
6.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 20,753 students · in-state tuition $17,490 · 68% graduate · median earnings $64,442 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,980 students · in-state tuition $67,840 · 86% graduate · median earnings $92,362 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,203 students · in-state tuition $19,660 · 41% graduate · median earnings $44,816 (10 yrs after entry)
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
8.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 454 students · in-state tuition $17,984 · median earnings $69,188 (10 yrs after entry)
Private for-profit · 4-year · 232 students · in-state tuition $18,145 · 31% graduate · median earnings $39,314 (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: Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, 7 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Laurel
Laurel has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Maggie L Walker National Historic Site (7 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Maggie L Walker National Historic Site
National Historic Site
7 mi awayRichmond National Battlefield Park
National Battlefield Park
16 mi awayPetersburg National Battlefield
National Battlefield
31 mi awayFredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
National Military Park
46 mi awayGreen Springs
National Park Site
47 mi awayGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument
National Monument
50 mi awayHistoric Jamestowne Part of Colonial National Historical Park
Part of Colonial National Historical Park
51 mi awayColonial National Historical Park
National Historical Park
56 mi awayCities Near Laurel
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Laurel?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Laurel FAQ
Is Laurel, Virginia affordable?⌄
Laurel's median rent is $1,616/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,609/year. Median home value is $283,600.
Is Laurel, Virginia safe?⌄
Laurel is policed by the Henrico County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 159 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 1806 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Laurel, Virginia?⌄
Henrico County, which includes Laurel, has an unemployment rate of 3.3%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Laurel, Virginia?⌄
The cost of living in Laurel is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,616/month and median household income is $73,609/year. The median home value is $283,600. About 54% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Laurel, Virginia?⌄
The average commute in Laurel is 24 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