Laurel is a small town of 7,181 in Montana, with a median household income of $62,250
and a 1.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Laurel stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index. 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: 89.6
Laurel's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Laurel costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Laurel, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$221,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$907
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
64.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$62,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Laurel's violent crime rate is 542.8 per 100,000 residents
— 43% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
542.8 /100k
Property Crime
3604.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Laurel is served primarily by Laurel Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Laurel, MT
National Avg
School District
Laurel Elem
—
Elementary Schools
3
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
94.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Laurel sees average highs of 37.2°F in January
and 88.7°F in July,
with 15.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Laurel's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Laurel roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $221,700 and median rent is $907/month.
Laurel's violent crime rate is 542.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 3604.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Laurel are operated by Laurel Elem.
The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 15.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Laurel, MT has a population of 7,181, a median household income of $62,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%.
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.
Laurel averages 37.2°F in January and 88.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.1 inches
with about 48.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Laurel, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59044.
The population of Laurel, Montana is 7,181 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Laurel: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $221,700, median household income $62,250, crime index 154 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. 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.
