Population 43,320 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Laurel
Household size in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.61 | 2.73 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.71 | 2.82 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.73 | 2.86 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.64 | 2.77 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.04 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
At 2.64 people per household, Laurel sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the Washington area as a whole, where it has 2.77 people.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.4 | 37.0 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 36.8 | 37.6 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 38.1 | 38.5 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 38.1 | 39.2 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +2.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Laurel is 38.1 years old, a few years younger than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.4, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the east, the oldest in the northwest.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 11.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 14.5% | 11.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.0% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.4% | 10.4% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are about as common in Laurel as they are nationally: 11.4%, against 11.6%. Single parents are more common here than in the Washington area as a whole (10.4%). The single-parent share has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Laurel
Renters in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.0% | 34.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.7% | 36.6% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 40.7% | 36.8% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 43.8% | 36.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +7.8 pts | +2.3 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is more common in Laurel than nationally: 43.8% of households rent their homes, against 34.8% for the U.S. About a quarter of owners (24.6%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has risen 7.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 8.7% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.8% | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 5.9% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −2.8 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Laurel: 5.7% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. That is in line with the rest of the Washington area. Vacancy is down 3.2 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1980 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1978 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1979 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1982 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in Laurel is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1984, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1980 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the east.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,276 | $1,470 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,551 | $1,583 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,730 | $1,907 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,032 | $2,236 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$756 | +$766 | +$620 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Laurel costs $2,032 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Even so, rents here are lower than in the Washington area overall ($2,236). Rent has climbed $756 a month since 2006–10, up 59%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 29.1% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Laurel
Bachelor's degrees in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.6% | 46.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 41.0% | 48.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.5% | 51.0% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 48.7% | 53.9% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.1 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Laurel is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (48.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Locally, though, the share is lower than in the Washington area as a whole (53.9%). The share with a degree is up 8.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.4% | 89.4% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 88.2% | 90.2% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.5% | 90.8% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.9% | 91.2% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +1.7 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Laurel have finished high school as nationally: 89.9%, against 89.3%. Laurel has a lower share of high school graduates than most Maryland cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Washington area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.2% | 5.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.2% | 6.9% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.9% | 4.7% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.9% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.3 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in Laurel than nationally: unemployment was 3.9%, against 5.4%. Unemployment is down 1.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Laurel compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel | 2.64 | 38.1 | 11.4% | 43.8% | 5.7% | 1984 | $2,032 | 48.7% | 89.9% | 3.9% |
| Scaggsville | 3.09 | 38.7 | 9.8% | 31.1% | 3.6% | 1992 | $2,418 | 56.1% | 90.2% | 2.1% |
| South Laurel | 2.63 | 37.7 | 17.4% | 64.1% | 5.8% | 1977 | $1,858 | 37.5% | 89.5% | 8.3% |
| Maryland City | 2.65 | 35.9 | 13.8% | 39.9% | 4.7% | 1985 | $2,358 | 41.5% | 91.4% | 4.7% |
| Burtonsville | 3.21 | 40.9 | 15.4% | 25.5% | 2.9% | 1984 | $2,330 | 47.3% | 88.6% | 6.1% |
| Savage | 2.39 | 33.1 | 3.1% | 59.8% | 2.8% | 1970 | $2,029 | 47.2% | 87.5% | 6.6% |
| Beltsville | 3.19 | 41.0 | 15.6% | 40.1% | 4.8% | 1981 | $2,075 | 38.6% | 81.3% | 6.0% |
| Fulton | 3.02 | 39.9 | 8.7% | 16.1% | 0.9% | 2009 | $2,970 | 83.8% | 98.3% | 1.5% |
| Annapolis Junction | 2.64 | 30.5 | 13.5% | 49.3% | 3.0% | 2003 | $2,202 | 49.2% | 95.8% | 4.2% |
| Fairland | 2.76 | 39.6 | 14.5% | 61.6% | 5.0% | 1984 | $1,961 | 48.0% | 90.6% | 5.9% |
| Calverton | 2.82 | 50.4 | 10.9% | 34.8% | 6.2% | 1991 | $2,444 | 53.0% | 89.9% | 5.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Clifton Park, NY · Stanton, CA · Essex, MD · Elmwood Park, IL · Ellenwood, GA · Elkton, MD · Eagle Mountain, UT · Dunedin, FL · Williamsport, PA · Chatsworth, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Laurel. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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