What are the schools like in Lawrence, MI?

Lawrence is served primarily by Van Buren ISD. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 6.2:1.

What is the median household income in Lawrence?

The median household income in Lawrence, MI is $41,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.4%.

What is the weather like in Lawrence, MI?

Lawrence has an average high temperature of 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 39.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 109.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Lawrence, MI affordable or expensive?

Lawrence's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lawrence is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $104,000 and the median rent is $536 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lawrence, MI?

Lawrence has a violent crime rate of 297.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 792.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lawrence, MI a Good Place to Live?

Lawrence is a small town of 1,007 in Michigan, with a median household income of $41,250 and a 8.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Lawrence stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.

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

All Lawrence 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: 88.1

Lawrence's overall cost of living index is 88.1, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lawrence costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lawrence, MI	National Avg
Median Home Value	$104,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$536	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	49.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$41,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Lawrence's violent crime rate is 297.0 per 100,000 residents — 22% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

297.0 /100k

Property Crime

792.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lawrence is served primarily by Van Buren ISD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lawrence, MI	National Avg
School District	Van Buren ISD	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	6.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	77.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lawrence sees average highs of 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July, with 39.2 inches of annual precipitation and 109.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lawrence, MI
Average High — January	32.0°F
Average High — July	82.9°F
Annual Precipitation	39.2"
Annual Snowfall	109.0"

Demographics

Metric	Lawrence, MI	National Avg
Population	1,007	—
Median Age	35.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	22.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.5%	22.2%
65 and over	11.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Hartford, MI 6 mi Bangor, MI 7 mi Paw Paw, MI 8 mi Decatur, MI 9 mi Breedsville, MI 9 mi

ZIP Codes in Lawrence

Lawrence, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code:

49064

Lawrence vs Other Cities

Lawrence, MI vs Hartford, MI Lawrence, MI vs Bangor, MI Lawrence, MI vs Paw Paw, MI Lawrence, MI vs Decatur, MI Lawrence, MI vs Breedsville, MI

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lawrence, MI affordable or expensive?

Lawrence's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lawrence roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $104,000 and median rent is $536/month.

What is the crime rate in Lawrence, MI?

Lawrence's violent crime rate is 297.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 792.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lawrence?

Public schools in Lawrence are operated by Van Buren ISD. The district has several elementary, several middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 6.2:1. 17.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lawrence, MI a good place to live?

Lawrence, MI has a population of 1,007, a median household income of $41,250, and an unemployment rate of 8.4%. 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 Lawrence?

Lawrence averages 32.0°F in January and 82.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 39.2 inches with about 109.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lawrence?

Lawrence, MI is covered by 1 ZIP code: 49064.

What is the population of Lawrence?

The population of Lawrence, Michigan is 1,007 with a median age of 35.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lawrence?

Key numbers for living in Lawrence: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $104,000, median household income $41,250, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lawrence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.