The Town FilesLaurel Lake, New Jersey
Community in Cumberland County · population 2,861 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $156,800
- Household income
- $55,574
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 41.8
Laurel Lake is a community of 2,861 people in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The median home is worth $156,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). It ranks more seaside character than 94% of New Jersey towns.
- #3 in The 18 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in New Jersey
- #6 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Cheapest Homes
- #24 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Small Towns in America
- #24 in 25 Small Towns in New Jersey With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
- #30 in The 50 Most Affordable Seaside Places in America
How Laurel Lake ranks
Percentile among New Jersey towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Jersey towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel Lake is worth $156,800, below the typical New Jersey town ($435,600). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,574, which is more affordable than 89% of New Jersey towns. Median rent is $1,200 a month. 72.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel Lake | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $156,800 | $435,600 |
| Median rent | $1,200 | $1,774 |
| Median household income | $55,574 | $111,891 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 72.8% | 80.8% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1969 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Laurel Lake
| People | Laurel Lake | Typical New Jersey town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | 42.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.2% | 18.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 6.0% | 44.1% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.8% | 5.7% |
| Veterans | 9.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.2% | — |
| Work from home | 3.5% | 16.3% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 30.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.1% | 94.6% |
Weather in Laurel Lake
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.8°F. About 43.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical New Jersey town: 24.5 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Lake since 1950, compared with 9 for the typical New Jersey town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on August 7, 2019 about 3.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 7, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 5 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 22, 2014.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4614: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| September 2, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3573: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| December 11, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4574: Tropical Storm Isaias |
| March 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4488: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3451: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 59,688 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $57,729 a year. Unemployment was 6.5% in 2023; in Laurel Lake itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Towns near Laurel Lake
- Commercial, NJ3.7 mi · 4,669 people · home $161,600
- Millville, NJ4.6 mi · 27,491 people · home $219,000
- Maurice River, NJ5.8 mi · 6,218 people · home $220,500
- Lawrence, NJ8.2 mi · 3,087 people · home $229,500
- Vineland, NJ9.7 mi · 60,780 people · home $240,700
- Deerfield, NJ10.7 mi · 3,136 people · home $244,200
- Fairfield, NJ11.6 mi · 5,546 people · home $185,200
- Weymouth, NJ11.9 mi · 2,614 people · home $169,700
Laurel Lake questions
Is Laurel Lake, New Jersey a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel Lake scores better for retirees than 14% of New Jersey towns and quieter than 41%. 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.8).
How much does a house cost in Laurel Lake?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel Lake is valued at $156,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,574, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,200 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel Lake?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 23.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 43.4 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Laurel Lake get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Lake since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on August 7, 2019. The typical New Jersey town has had 9.
- 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)