Very AffordableVery SafeEast Marshall Comm School District
Median Income
$61,875
household / year
Median Home Value
$101,600
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$650
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100
Is Laurel, IA a Good Place to Live?
Laurel is a small town of 198 in Iowa, with a median household income of $61,875
and a 0.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Laurel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 86.9
Laurel's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Laurel costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Laurel, IA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$101,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$650
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
88.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$61,875
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Laurel's violent crime rate is 208.3 per 100,000 residents
— 45% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
208.3 /100k
Property Crime
1242.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Laurel is served primarily by East Marshall Comm School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Laurel, IA
National Avg
School District
East Marshall Comm School District
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Laurel sees average highs of 27.5°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 37.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Laurel's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Laurel roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $101,600 and median rent is $650/month.
Laurel's violent crime rate is 208.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1242.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Laurel are operated by East Marshall Comm School District.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.6:1. 10.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Laurel, IA has a population of 198, a median household income of $61,875, and an unemployment rate of 0.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Laurel averages 27.5°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.2 inches
with about 27.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Laurel, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 50141.
The population of Laurel, Iowa is 198 with a median age of 50.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Laurel: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $101,600, median household income $61,875, crime index 57 (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.