The Town FilesLaurel Hill, North Carolina
Community in Scotland County · population 1,121 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $56,700
- Household income
- $30,893
- Jan low / Jul high
- 33° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 36.9
Laurel Hill is a community of 1,121 people in Scotland County, North Carolina. The median home is worth $56,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). It ranks easier by car than 73% of North Carolina towns, better for first-time buyers than 71% of North Carolina towns.
How Laurel Hill ranks
Percentile among North Carolina towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of North Carolina towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel Hill is worth $56,700, below the typical North Carolina town ($228,900). Homes cost about 1.8 times the median household income of $30,893, which is more affordable than 99% of North Carolina towns. Median rent is $798 a month. 69.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel Hill | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $56,700 | $228,900 |
| Median rent | $798 | $969 |
| Median household income | $30,893 | $60,458 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.8× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 69.5% | 69.5% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1984 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Laurel Hill
| People | Laurel Hill | Typical North Carolina town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 41.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 19.0% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.2% | 24.5% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.3% | 14.3% |
| Veterans | 4.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 9.8% |
| Average commute | 33.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.4% | 89.5% |
Weather in Laurel Hill
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 33.2°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 1.1 inches of snow (typical North Carolina town: 2.2 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 57 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Hill since 1950, compared with 13 for the typical North Carolina town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on March 28, 1984 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 242 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 29, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 21, 1970.
Severe weather in Scotland County since 1996
Scotland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for tornado, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3637: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3617: Hurricane Helene |
| August 6, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3608: Tropical Storm Debby |
| October 1, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3586: Hurricane Ian |
| August 2, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3534: Hurricane Isaias |
Jobs and pay in Scotland County
Scotland County had 11,960 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,042 a year. Unemployment was 6.3% in 2023; in Laurel Hill itself the ACS puts it at 12.9%.
Public schools in Laurel Hill
2 public schools with 1,273 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Hill Elementary | PK-5 | 659 | 13.2 |
| Carver Middle | 6-8 | 614 | 18.1 |
Towns near Laurel Hill
- Laurinburg, NC5.1 mi · 14,978 people · home $134,200
- Scotch Meadows, NC8.5 mi · 568 people · home $220,000
- McColl, SC9.9 mi · 2,070 people · home $56,300
- Dobbins Heights, NC10.7 mi · 687 people · home $56,000
- Hamlet, NC10.9 mi · 6,025 people · home $112,600
- Wagram, NC11.6 mi · 615 people · home $111,700
- Maxton, NC12.0 mi · 2,110 people · home $83,200
- East Rockingham, NC14.3 mi · 3,471 people · home $111,800
Laurel Hill questions
Is Laurel Hill, North Carolina a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel Hill scores better for retirees than 14% of North Carolina towns and quieter than 46%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Laurel Hill?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel Hill is valued at $56,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,893, so homes cost about 1.8 times income. Median rent is $798 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel Hill?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 33.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 1.1 inches of snow.
Does Laurel Hill get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel Hill since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on March 28, 1984. The typical North Carolina town has had 13.
- 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)