Population 17,645 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Laurel
Household size in Laurel
| Period | Laurel | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.35 | 2.58 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.37 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.63 | 2.68 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.56 | 2.54 | 2.62 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.21 | −0.04 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Laurel run a little small, averaging 2.56 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has climbed from 2.35 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 34.5 | 38.2 | 38.2 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 33.9 | 39.0 | 39.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.7 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 35.5 | 39.6 | 40.3 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.0 | +1.4 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
With a median age of just 35.5, Laurel is far younger than the country as a whole (40.1), a population that tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 34.5, in line with the national trend. Of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people, only 23 are younger.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.4% | 12.4% | 11.1% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.5% | 12.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 13.3% | 11.3% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 12.5% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | +0.1 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are common in Laurel: 15.7% of all households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share is up 1.3 points from 2006–10, even as the national share fell. Laurel has a higher share of single-parent households than the great majority of Virginia cities.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.0% | 31.5% | 31.1% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 51.1% | 33.8% | 33.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 53.0% | 34.4% | 33.7% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 49.7% | 33.0% | 32.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +4.7 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting is far more common in Laurel than nationally: 49.7% of households rent their homes, against 34.8%. Among homeowners, 28.0% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share is up 4.7 points from 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only 20 of the 243 Virginia cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.7% | 9.7% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 10.1% | 10.2% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.0% | 8.1% | 9.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.2% | 8.4% | 8.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.5 pts | −1.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Laurel: 6.2% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Vacancy has fallen 1.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1977 | 1978 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1976 | 1979 | 1980 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1976 | 1980 | 1981 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1980 | 1984 | 1984 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The typical home in Laurel was built around 1980, the same vintage as the country's housing overall. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, 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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $971 | $1,006 | $1,143 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,098 | $1,097 | $1,238 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,254 | $1,248 | $1,436 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,704 | $1,608 | $1,743 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$733 | +$602 | +$600 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Laurel costs $1,704 a month with utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $733 a month since 2006–10, up 76%, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 32.2% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the southeast; the highest are in the northwest.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.9% | 33.0% | 35.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 24.3% | 34.4% | 36.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.1% | 38.0% | 39.3% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.2% | 41.0% | 42.5% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.3 pts | +8.0 pts | +7.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Laurel than nationally: 29.2% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the southwest.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 84.7% | 86.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.2% | 88.1% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.9% | 90.0% | 89.9% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 88.7% | 92.3% | 91.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +5.8 pts | +4.7 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Laurel is close to the national rate: 88.7% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Richmond area (92.3%). The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 | Richmond area | Virginia | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.2% | 7.1% | 6.0% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 8.2% | 7.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 5.2% | 4.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.5% | 4.3% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.6 pts | −1.7 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Laurel is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. 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 | 2.56 | 35.5 | 15.7% | 49.7% | 6.2% | 1980 | $1,704 | 29.2% | 88.7% | 4.8% |
| Lakeside | 2.13 | 40.9 | 12.9% | 52.0% | 7.2% | 1969 | $1,487 | 36.9% | 90.7% | 2.2% |
| Glen Allen | 2.68 | 42.9 | 7.5% | 21.5% | 3.5% | 1997 | $1,934 | 55.8% | 93.8% | 2.8% |
| Innsbrook | 2.64 | 38.8 | 8.9% | 34.2% | 10.6% | 1998 | $1,715 | 66.7% | 97.2% | 3.5% |
| Chamberlayne | 2.16 | 54.0 | 6.7% | 4.3% | 5.1% | 1980 | $1,335 | 50.6% | 95.0% | 4.6% |
| Tuckahoe | 2.56 | 42.0 | 11.7% | 37.3% | 6.1% | 1973 | $1,658 | 57.3% | 94.4% | 3.8% |
| Poindexters | 2.41 | 48.6 | 8.8% | 10.9% | 4.4% | 1996 | $1,559 | 46.6% | 96.4% | 2.6% |
| Short Pump | 2.53 | 41.0 | 5.8% | 37.7% | 6.1% | 2000 | $1,970 | 75.1% | 98.4% | 2.0% |
| Wyndham | 3.08 | 41.0 | 5.0% | 9.0% | 5.5% | 2002 | $2,155 | 84.8% | 98.6% | 3.2% |
| Richmond area | 2.54 | 39.6 | 12.5% | 33.0% | 8.4% | 1984 | $1,608 | 41.0% | 92.3% | 4.5% |
| Ashland | 2.52 | 40.5 | 10.9% | 27.6% | 6.6% | 1988 | $1,508 | 43.4% | 92.3% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Lafollette, TN · McCordsville, IN · Mastic, NY · Mars, PA · Marion, AR · Marianna, FL · Marco Island, FL · Lincoln, IL · Las Vegas, NM · Las Carolinas, PR
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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