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MICROPOLITAN AREA

Laurel Micro

Laurel, MS · 2 counties · 82,281 residents (2025 est.) · 1,371.156 sq mi
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The short version

Laurel has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,524. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $136,095.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 38.7
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 42%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
82,531
−1%since 2000
from 83,107 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
60 / sq mi
−1%since 2000
from 61 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
38.7
+9%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:82,281 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
79K80K82K84K86K1990201020202024Laurel
202483K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,524
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,837 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,819
+100%since 2000
from $14,398 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
35.7%
+20.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 20.4% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.479
+2%since 2010
from 0.469 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade17%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.6%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance6.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing5%
US avg: 1.6%
Professional, scientific, technical4.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.4%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Construction3.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services1.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing1.8%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing1.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 1.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$136,095
+42%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,602 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$841
+28%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
76.5%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 79.0% in 2000
23.5% rent
Vacancy rate
14.4%
+3.1 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
15.8%
−5.5 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
2.6
+40%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
40
RELATED:See current rent listings in Laurel on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic65.4%(54,333)
Black32%(26,593)
Hispanic / Latino1.7%(1,388)
Asian0.2%(184)
Other0%
Diversity Score57.8%(48,000)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic59.3%(48,921)
Black32.9%(27,123)
Hispanic / Latino5.2%(4,303)
Asian0.4%(297)
Other2.3%(1,887)
Diversity Score67.2%(55,438)
Segregation Score41.6%(34,315)
Diversity Score
67
+16%since 2000
from 58 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−14%since 2020
from 48 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
19.0%
+5.9 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.0%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 72.3% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
7.1%
+2.9 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
26.0 min
+70%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
83.4%
−1.7 ptssince 2009
from 85.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.3%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
4.2%
+1.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.1%
+0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.5%
−1.3 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 6.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
55.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2011
from 55.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
15.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
30.9%
−26.0 ptssince 2009
from 56.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
50.8%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
6.1%
−41.9 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
18.6%
−0.8 ptssince 2012
from 19.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
11.2%
−71.4 ptssince 2013
from 82.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
74.7%
+26.5 ptssince 2017
from 48.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.6%
−0.9 ptssince 2016
from 96.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.8%
+1.1 ptssince 2016
from 2.7% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LaurelCENTRAL17,662
What's inside

2 component counties

Jones CountyCENTRAL66,496Jasper County15,785
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Laurel

Huntsville
Pop 83,842
Fort Payne
Pop 74,085
Bluefield
Pop 96,138
Greenwood
Pop 95,215
Places similar to Laurel
Head to head

Compare Laurel side by side

LAUREL VS
Huntsville
Income$52,324+2%
Home value$226,900+67%
Population83,842+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204−1%
Home value$152,700+12%
Population74,085−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Bluefield
Income$50,830−1%
Home value$120,328−12%
Population96,138+17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Greenwood
Income$52,857+3%
Home value$180,058+32%
Population95,215+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Laurel, MS?

Laurel, MS has about 82,531 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Laurel, MS?

The typical household in Laurel, MS earns about $51,524 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Laurel, MS expensive?

In Laurel, MS, the median home is worth about $136,095, and the typical rent is about $841 a month.

How educated are people in Laurel, MS?

About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Laurel, MS hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Laurel, MS?

About 18.9% of people in Laurel, MS live below the federal poverty line.

Has Laurel, MS grown since 1990?

Yes, Laurel, MS has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,386 residents, a change of about 4 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →