The Town FilesSouth Laurel, Maryland
Community in Prince George's County · population 29,602 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $458,100
- Household income
- $88,933
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 36.2
South Laurel is a community of 29,602 people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $458,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for young professionals than 93% of Maryland towns, more of a college town than 85% of Maryland towns, better for first-time buyers than 84% of Maryland towns.
How South 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 South Laurel is worth $458,100, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $88,933, which is more affordable than 12% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $1,830 a month. 40.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $458,100 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $1,830 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $88,933 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 40.7% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in South Laurel
| People | South Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40.2% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.8% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 5.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 29.6% | — |
| Work from home | 13.4% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.2% | 94.3% |
Weather in South 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
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South 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 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 56 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 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 South Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 6.7%.
Towns near South Laurel
- Laurel, MD2.5 mi · 30,060 people · home $385,500
- Konterra, MD3.2 mi · 3,158 people · home $459,700
- Maryland City, MD3.5 mi · 19,153 people · home $424,900
- Beltsville, MD4.3 mi · 20,133 people · home $416,500
- West Laurel, MD4.5 mi · 4,428 people · home $541,000
- North Laurel, MD4.7 mi · 25,379 people · home $450,100
- Greenbelt, MD5.1 mi · 24,921 people · home $255,400
- Seabrook, MD5.5 mi · 19,627 people · home $412,100
South Laurel questions
Is South Laurel, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Laurel scores better for retirees than 24% of Maryland towns and quieter than 4%. 11.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.2).
How much does a house cost in South Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in South Laurel is valued at $458,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $88,933, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,830 a month.
What is the weather like in South 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 South Laurel get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South 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)