The Town FilesLaurel, Maryland
City in Prince George's County · population 30,060 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $385,500
- Household income
- $100,504
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 36.3
Laurel is a city of 30,060 people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $385,500, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 95% of Maryland towns, better for cycling than 82% of Maryland towns.
How Laurel ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel is worth $385,500, below the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $100,504, which is more affordable than 52% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,873 a month. 44.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $385,500 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,873 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $100,504 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 44.2% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.5% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.7% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 3.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 32.9% | — |
| Work from home | 17.1% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 30.9 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.7% | 94.3% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 0.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 73 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 8, 1990.
Severe weather in Prince George's County since 1996
Prince George's County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Prince George's County
Prince George's County had 329,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,373 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 4.7%.
Public schools in Laurel
20 public schools with 14,033 students, about 14.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel High | 9-12 | 2,179 | 17.9 |
| Chesapeake Math and IT Public Charter (charter) | K-12 | 1,686 | 17.2 |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle | 6-8 | 1,033 | 14.5 |
| Monarch Global Academy PCS Laurel Campus | K-8 | 832 | 13.6 |
| Hammond Elementary | K-5 | 739 | 15.7 |
| Gorman Crossing Elementary | PK-5 | 728 | 13.5 |
| Forest Ridge Elementary | PK-5 | 679 | 13.1 |
| Murray Hill Middle | 6-8 | 600 | 12.2 |
| Laurel Woods Elementary | PK-5 | 596 | 11.7 |
| Hammond Middle | 6-8 | 582 | 15.3 |
| Montpelier Elementary | PK-5 | 571 | 16.3 |
| Scotchtown Hills Elementary | PK-5 | 568 | 15.4 |
Towns near Laurel
- West Laurel, MD2.2 mi · 4,428 people · home $541,000
- Konterra, MD2.3 mi · 3,158 people · home $459,700
- South Laurel, MD2.5 mi · 29,602 people · home $458,100
- North Laurel, MD2.5 mi · 25,379 people · home $450,100
- Maryland City, MD3.0 mi · 19,153 people · home $424,900
- Scaggsville, MD3.4 mi · 9,217 people · home $668,500
- Savage, MD4.1 mi · 7,542 people · home $424,300
- Burtonsville, MD4.4 mi · 9,498 people · home $488,800
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 18% of Maryland towns and quieter than 7%. 11.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel is valued at $385,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $100,504, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,873 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)