What are the schools like in Laurel, MS?

Laurel is served primarily by Laurel School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 16.0:1.

What is the median household income in Laurel?

The median household income in Laurel, MS is $36,336 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Laurel, MS?

Laurel has an average high temperature of 59.9°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 59.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Laurel, MS affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 89, where 100 represents the national average. This means Laurel is 11% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $111,300 and the median rent is $738 per month.

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

Laurel has a violent crime rate of 1051.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 3788.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Laurel, MS a Good Place to Live?

Laurel is a small city of 17,241 in Mississippi, with a median household income of $36,336 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is 11% 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 a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 88.9

Laurel's overall cost of living index is 88.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Laurel costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.

Metric	Laurel, MS	National Avg
Median Home Value	$111,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$738	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	63.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$36,336	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Laurel's violent crime rate is 1051.9 per 100,000 residents — 177% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1051.9 /100k

Property Crime

3788.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Laurel is served primarily by Laurel School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1 .

Metric	Laurel, MS	National Avg
School District	Laurel School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	16.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	21.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	81.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Laurel sees average highs of 59.9°F in January and 93.2°F in July, with 59.6 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Laurel, MS
Average High — January	59.9°F
Average High — July	93.2°F
Annual Precipitation	59.6"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Laurel, MS	National Avg
Population	17,241	—
Median Age	37.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	31.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	65.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.2%	6.3%
Under 18	24.5%	22.2%
65 and over	17.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Sharon, MS 8 mi Ellisville, MS 8 mi Soso, MS 9 mi Sandersville, MS 9 mi Moselle, MS 15 mi

ZIP Codes in Laurel

Laurel, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code:

39440

Laurel vs Other Cities

Laurel, MS vs Sharon, MS Laurel, MS vs Ellisville, MS Laurel, MS vs Soso, MS Laurel, MS vs Sandersville, MS Laurel, MS vs Moselle, MS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Laurel, MS affordable or expensive?

Laurel's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average. That makes Laurel roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $111,300 and median rent is $738/month.

What is the crime rate in Laurel, MS?

Laurel's violent crime rate is 1051.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3788.0 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 Laurel School District. The district has 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. 21.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Laurel, MS a good place to live?

Laurel, MS has a population of 17,241, a median household income of $36,336, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. 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 59.9°F in January and 93.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 59.6 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Laurel?

Laurel, MS is covered by 1 ZIP code: 39440.

What is the population of Laurel?

The population of Laurel, Mississippi is 17,241 with a median age of 37.6. 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 89 (100 = US average), median home $111,300, median household income $36,336, crime index 238 (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.