What are the schools like in Laurel, IN?

Laurel is served primarily by Franklin County Community Sch Corp. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.0:1.

What is the median household income in Laurel?

The median household income in Laurel, IN is $23,125 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.9%.

What is the weather like in Laurel, IN?

Laurel has an average high temperature of 38.1°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 17.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Laurel, IN affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 94, where 100 represents the national average. This means Laurel is 6% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $72,400 and the median rent is $845 per month.

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

Laurel has a violent crime rate of 48.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 483.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Laurel, IN a Good Place to Live?

Laurel is a small town of 588 in Indiana, with a median household income of $23,125 and a 11.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is 6% below the national average.

Strengths: Laurel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

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: 94.1

Laurel's overall cost of living index is 94.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Laurel costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.

Metric	Laurel, IN	National Avg
Median Home Value	$72,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$845	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	59.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$23,125	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Laurel's violent crime rate is 48.3 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

48.3 /100k

Property Crime

483.3 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Laurel is served primarily by Franklin County Community Sch Corp. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Laurel, IN	National Avg
School District	Franklin County Community Sch Corp	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	2.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	69.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Laurel sees average highs of 38.1°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 45.0 inches of annual precipitation and 17.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Laurel, IN
Average High — January	38.1°F
Average High — July	87.1°F
Annual Precipitation	45.0"
Annual Snowfall	17.6"

Demographics

Metric	Laurel, IN	National Avg
Population	588	—
Median Age	27.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	33.5%	22.2%
65 and over	14.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Lake View, IN 4 mi Metamora, IN 5 mi Andersonville, IN 5 mi Blooming Grove, IN 6 mi Everton, IN 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Laurel

Laurel, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code:

47024

Laurel vs Other Cities

Laurel, IN vs Lake View, IN Laurel, IN vs Metamora, IN Laurel, IN vs Andersonville, IN Laurel, IN vs Blooming Grove, IN Laurel, IN vs Everton, IN

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laurel, IN affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average. That makes Laurel roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $72,400 and median rent is $845/month.

What is the crime rate in Laurel, IN?

Laurel's violent crime rate is 48.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 483.3 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 Franklin County Community Sch Corp. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. 2.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Laurel, IN a good place to live?

Laurel, IN has a population of 588, a median household income of $23,125, and an unemployment rate of 11.9%. 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.

What is the weather like in Laurel?

Laurel averages 38.1°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.0 inches with about 17.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Laurel?

Laurel, IN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 47024.

What is the population of Laurel?

The population of Laurel, Indiana is 588 with a median age of 27.8. 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 94 (100 = US average), median home $72,400, median household income $23,125, crime index 17 (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.