The Town FilesNorth Laurel, Maryland
Community in Howard County · population 25,379 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $450,100
- Household income
- $122,949
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 29 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 35.5
North Laurel is a community of 25,379 people in Howard County, Maryland. The median home is worth $450,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 92% of Maryland towns, more vibrant than 74% of Maryland towns, more upscale than 71% of Maryland towns.
How North 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 North Laurel is worth $450,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $122,949, which is more affordable than 57% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,031 a month. 62.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | North Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $450,100 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,031 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $122,949 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 62.3% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1994 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in North Laurel
| People | North Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.5 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.9% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.5% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 31.9% | — |
| Work from home | 23.3% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.0% | 94.3% |
Weather in North 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 28.5 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 North 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 2.0 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 65 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 8, 1990.
Severe weather in Howard County since 1996
Howard County has been included in 22 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 |
| July 2, 2018 | Flood | DR-4376: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 16, 2016 | Flood | DR-4279: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Howard County
Howard County had 173,483 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $86,951 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in North Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Towns near North Laurel
- Savage, MD1.8 mi · 7,542 people · home $424,300
- Scaggsville, MD2.1 mi · 9,217 people · home $668,500
- Laurel, MD2.5 mi · 30,060 people · home $385,500
- West Laurel, MD2.6 mi · 4,428 people · home $541,000
- Maryland City, MD2.9 mi · 19,153 people · home $424,900
- Fulton, MD3.9 mi · 5,916 people · home $913,100
- Jessup, MD4.0 mi · 10,535 people · home $462,000
- Konterra, MD4.4 mi · 3,158 people · home $459,700
North Laurel questions
Is North Laurel, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, North Laurel scores better for retirees than 30% of Maryland towns and quieter than 19%. 10.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.5).
How much does a house cost in North Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in North Laurel is valued at $450,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $122,949, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $2,031 a month.
What is the weather like in North 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 28.5 inches of snow.
Does North Laurel get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North 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)