What are the schools like in Laurel, FL?

Laurel is served primarily by SARASOTA. The district operates 31 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 11 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Laurel?

The median household income in Laurel, FL is $84,095 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 5.1%.

What is the weather like in Laurel, FL?

Laurel has an average high temperature of 72.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 51.3 inches.

Laurel, FL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Laurel, FL affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Laurel is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $396,300 and the median rent is $1,969 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Laurel, FL?

Laurel has a violent crime rate of 141.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 901.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Laurel, FL a Good Place to Live?

Laurel is a small city of 11,858 in Florida, with a median household income of $84,095 and a 5.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Laurel stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Laurel is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Laurel city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 103.6

Laurel's overall cost of living index is 103.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Laurel costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Laurel, FL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$396,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,969	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	86.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$84,095	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Laurel's violent crime rate is 141.8 per 100,000 residents — 63% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

141.8 /100k

Property Crime

901.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Laurel is served primarily by SARASOTA. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Laurel, FL	National Avg
School District	SARASOTA	—
Elementary Schools	31	—
Middle Schools	11	—
High Schools	11	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Laurel sees average highs of 72.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July, with 51.3 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Laurel, FL
Average High — January	72.4°F
Average High — July	91.5°F
Annual Precipitation	51.3"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Laurel, FL	National Avg
Population	11,858	—
Median Age	62.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	5.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.1%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.1%	6.3%
Under 18	12.0%	22.2%
65 and over	44.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Nokomis, FL 2 mi Osprey, FL 3 mi Venice, FL 4 mi Palmer Ranch, FL 5 mi Vamo, FL 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Laurel

Laurel, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code:

34275

Laurel vs Other Cities

Laurel, FL vs Nokomis, FL Laurel, FL vs Osprey, FL Laurel, FL vs Venice, FL Laurel, FL vs Palmer Ranch, FL Laurel, FL vs Vamo, FL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laurel, FL affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Laurel roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $396,300 and median rent is $1,969/month.

What is the crime rate in Laurel, FL?

Laurel's violent crime rate is 141.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 901.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Laurel?

Public schools in Laurel are operated by SARASOTA. The district has 31 elementary, 11 middle, and 11 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 40.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Laurel, FL a good place to live?

Laurel, FL has a population of 11,858, a median household income of $84,095, and an unemployment rate of 5.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Laurel?

Laurel averages 72.4°F in January and 91.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 51.3 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Laurel?

Laurel, FL is covered by 1 ZIP code: 34275.

What is the population of Laurel?

The population of Laurel, Florida is 11,858 with a median age of 62.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Laurel?

Key numbers for living in Laurel: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $396,300, median household income $84,095, crime index 40 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Laurel side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.