Laurel, MD
Census place 2445900 · pop 29,798
Where Arthur Bremer shot and paralyzed presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972.
Source ↗Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
4851 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities
44.2% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
31 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities
40.1% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
394 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities
12.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$385,500 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
95/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities
$1,902/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).
U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities
1.18% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
3 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
24.5% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
9.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities
3.3% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 42 AQI · better than most cities
39 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$100,504 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
15.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities
10.2% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
47.7% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.38 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities
+15.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
97.7% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Frequently asked
- Is Laurel, MD a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Laurel scores 48/100 — a D− (Rough) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is broadband access and its weakest is property crime rate. Maryland overall ranks #44 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Laurel, MD?
- Laurel reports 394 violent crimes per 100k and 4851 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Laurel, MD expensive to live in?
- Laurel has a median home value of $385,500 and typical rent around $1,902/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Laurel, MD?
- Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (4851/100k) — 3/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
- What is Laurel, MD best at?
- Its strongest measured area is broadband access (97.7%) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities. Fun fact: Where Arthur Bremer shot and paralyzed presidential candidate George Wallace in 1972.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.