CensusEasy
MICROPOLITAN AREA · 1990 CENSUS

Laurel Micro

Laurel, MS · 2 counties · 79,145 residents · 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 $18,567. Population has declined 5% since 2000. 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 20%. Median home value is $40,308. The poverty rate of 24.4% is well above the national figure.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Mid-age
median age 33.3
US median: 33.0
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
79,145
−5%vs 2000
vs 83,107 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
58 / sq mi
−5%vs 2000
vs 61 / sq mi in 2000
Median age
33.3
−7%vs 2000
vs 35.6 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Population, 1990 – 2024
79K80K82K84K86K1990201020202024Laurel
202483K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.8%(5,416)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.2%(6,477)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 148.1%(6,422)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 198.4%(6,676)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 246.1%(4,838)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3415.1%(11,919)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4413.6%(10,793)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 549.9%(7,837)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.4%(7,465)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 748%(6,309)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 844.8%(3,763)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.6%(1,230)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$18,567
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $27,837 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,200
−36%vs 2000
vs $14,398 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
24.4%
+4.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 20.4% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$40,308
+1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $52,602 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$253
−8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $361 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
79.0%
Unchangedvs 2000
vs 79.0% in 2000
21.0% rent
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%
1990
White, non-Hispanic68.9%(54,553)
Black30.6%(24,181)
Hispanic / Latino0.3%(233)
Asian0.2%(165)
Other0.3%(246)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican4.5%(3,002)
Guatemalan1.1%(711)
Puerto Rican0.1%(79)
Salvadoran0.1%(66)
Colombian0.1%(59)
Honduran0.1%(35)
Argentine0%(13)
Asian origin
Pakistani0.1%(95)
Vietnamese0.1%(80)
Filipino0.1%(56)
Chinese0%(32)
Korean0%(19)
Pacific Islander origin
Chamorro0%(23)
Ancestry
American17.2%(14,179)
English9.9%(8,164)
Irish6%(4,949)
German4%(3,281)
Scottish1.6%(1,335)
French1.2%(1,028)
Scotch-Irish1.1%(888)
Italian1%(864)
Arab0.6%(432)
Lebanese0.4%(282)
Dutch0.3%(272)
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian0.3%(253)
Swedish0.3%(219)
Polish0.2%(206)
British0.2%(169)
Welsh0.2%(138)
Moroccan0.2%(122)
Guyanese0.1%(99)
Swiss0.1%(52)
Czech0.1%(50)
West Indian0.1%(49)
Danish0.1%(35)
Egyptian0%(28)
Haitian0%(25)
Portuguese0.1%(24)
Jamaican0%(24)
Austrian0%(21)
Nigerian0%(19)
Greek0%(9)
Belgian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest German population · Largest Mexican population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
11.7%
−1.4 ptsvs 2000
vs 13.1% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
63.4%
−8.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 72.3% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
3.7%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 4.3% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.1 min
+31%vs 2000
vs 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married33.8%(10,723)
Married50.5%(16,000)
Widowed4.8%(1,506)
Divorced10.9%(3,465)
Women 15+
Never married29.1%(9,927)
Married46.6%(15,887)
Widowed11.5%(3,916)
Divorced12.8%(4,361)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
In this metro

Largest cities

LaurelCENTRAL17,662Ellisville4,473Sharon1,910Bay Springs1,472Sandersville622Heidelberg607Soso416Ovett333Louin264Montrose101Moselle89
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+182%
Home value$226,900+463%
Population83,842+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+176%
Home value$152,700+279%
Population74,085−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Bluefield
Income$50,830+174%
Home value$120,328+199%
Population96,138+17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Greenwood
Income$52,857+185%
Home value$180,058+347%
Population95,215+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Laurel, MS?

Laurel, MS has about 79,145 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Laurel, MS?

The typical household in Laurel, MS earns about $18,567 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 $40,308, and the typical rent is about $253 a month.

How educated are people in Laurel, MS?

About 11.7% 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 24.4% of people in Laurel, MS live below the federal poverty line.

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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 →