Laurel, MT

Census place 3042700 · pop 7,215

D55/ 100
😐 Meh
B
in MT
📍 Montana ranks #15 of 50 states →
🏆 Rent$1,215/mo · top 12%
🚽 Property crime3605/100k · bottom 7%
Taxes
0.82% property · US 0.99%None sales · US 7.00%up to 5.65% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property crime rate3605/100k7

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

3605 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate543/100k14

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

543 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Bachelor's degree or higher20.8%24

U.S. median 24.3% · worse than most cities

20.8% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Homeownership58.7%35

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

58.7% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Poor mental health18.1%35

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.1% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Adult smoking14.5%38

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

14.5% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$68,47441

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$68,474 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.4442

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.44 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Adult obesity33.9%56

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

33.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Uninsured adults8.9%57

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Poverty rate10.0%57

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

10.0% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Broadband access92.9%61

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

92.9% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Housing cost$235,10061

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$235,100 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Property-tax burden0.82%61

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.82% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level1 days62

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

1 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.

Population growth (5yr)+5.6%67

U.S. median +2.4% · better than most cities

+5.6% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Physical inactivity21.3%71

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

21.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Air quality (AQI)County-level39 AQI73

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.

Commute time19 min80

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level59/10084

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

59/100 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.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.8%87

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Rent$1,215/mo88

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,215/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Frequently asked

Is Laurel, MT a good place to live?
By the numbers, Laurel scores 55/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is rent and its weakest is property crime rate. Montana overall ranks #15 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, MT?
Laurel reports 543 violent crimes per 100k and 3605 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Laurel, MT expensive to live in?
Laurel has a median home value of $235,100 and typical rent around $1,215/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Laurel, MT?
Its weakest measured area is property crime rate (3605/100k) — 7/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Laurel, MT best at?
Its strongest measured area is rent ($1,215/mo) — 88/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.