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MICROPOLITAN AREA · 2010 ACS

Laurel Micro

Laurel, MS · 2 counties · 84,823 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 $34,842. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 28%. Median home value is $77,006.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $52,703
Mid-age
median age 37.6
US median: 37.2
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 28%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $225,659
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
84,823
+2%since 2000
from 83,107 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
62 / sq mi
+2%since 2000
from 61 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 261
Median age
37.6
+5%since 2000
from 35.6 in 2000
US average: 37.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
79K80K82K84K86K1990201020202024Laurel
202483K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$34,842
−1%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $27,837 in 2000
US average: $52,703
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,559
+29%since 2000
from $14,398 in 2000
US average: $27,286
Households earning $100K+
17.4%
+1.8 ptssince 2009
from 15.6% in 2009
US average: 33.3%
Poverty rate
21.9%
+1.5 ptssince 2000
from 20.4% in 2000
US average: 13.8%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.469
US average: 0.461
Workforce by industry, 2010
Retail trade20.6%
US avg: 10.9%
Information10.7%
US avg: 11.5%
Wholesale trade8%
US avg: 7.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.1%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services4.3%
US avg: 7%
Finance & insurance4.1%
US avg: 5.1%
Manufacturing3.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Public administration3%
US avg: 4.9%
Transportation & warehousing3%
US avg: 3.1%
Professional, scientific, technical2.9%
US avg: 4.2%
Construction2.7%
US avg: 1.4%
Education & health services1.2%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food0.9%
US avg: 2.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$77,006
+16%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $52,602 in 2000
US average: $225,659
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$577
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $361 in 2000
US average: $853
Owner-occupied
36.8%
−42.2 ptssince 2000
from 79.0% in 2000
24.3% rent
Vacancy rate
12.2%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 12.1%
Owner cost-burdened
21.5%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 21.3% in 2009
US average: 30.9%
Renter cost-burdened
36.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 39.0% in 2009
US average: 46.8%
Afford Score
2.2
+17%since 2000
from 1.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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)
2010
White, non-Hispanic61.6%(52,287)
Black33%(28,020)
Hispanic / Latino3.9%(3,335)
Asian0.4%(318)
Other1.3%(1,066)
Diversity Score63.9%(54,236)
Diversity Score
64
+11%since 2000
from 58 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
14.9%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 13.1% in 2000
US average: 27.9%
High school or higher
77.1%
+4.8 ptssince 2000
from 72.3% in 2000
US average: 84.9%
Graduate degree
6.1%
+1.8 ptssince 2000
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 10.2%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
24.1 min
+57%since 2000
from 15.3 min in 2000
US average: 25.2
Drive alone to work
85.5%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 85.1% in 2009
US average: 76.2%
Carpooled to work
9.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 10.6% in 2009
US average: 10.4%
Public transit
0.5%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 4.7%
Worked from home
2.5%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 4.1%
Walked to work
0.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 0.6% in 2009
US average: 2.8%
Biked to work
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 0.5%
No vehicle available
6.9%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 6.8% in 2009
US average: 8.7%
Section 07

Work & employment

Self-employed
14.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2009
from 15.4% in 2009
US average: 12.9%
Management & professional
26.1%
−30.8 ptssince 2009
from 56.9% in 2009
US average: 35.2%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.7%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
Female
51.3%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 2.7% in 2009
US average: 12.8%
Veterans
9.5%
−38.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 9.9%
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+50%
Home value$226,900+195%
Population83,842+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Fort Payne
Income$51,204+47%
Home value$152,700+98%
Population74,085−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Bluefield
Income$50,830+46%
Home value$120,328+56%
Population96,138+17%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAUREL VS
Greenwood
Income$52,857+52%
Home value$180,058+134%
Population95,215+16%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Laurel, MS?

Laurel, MS has about 84,823 residents according to the 2010 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Laurel, MS?

The typical household in Laurel, MS earns about $34,842 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 $77,006, and the typical rent is about $577 a month.

How educated are people in Laurel, MS?

About 14.9% 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 21.9% 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 5,678 residents, a change of about 7 percent over that period.

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

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