F
123%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
66%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
134%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleLaurel/100k peopleMississippi/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime885n/a (estimate)5,1861,9922,324
Murder5n/a29.37.86.3
Rape14n/a82.033.740.0
Robbery6n/a35.225.666.1
Assault80n/a468.8178.0268.2
Violent crime105n/a (estimate)615245370
Burglary141n/a826.2350.2269.8
Theft573n/a3,357.61,222.61,401.9
Vehicle theft66n/a386.7173.9282.7
Property crime780n/a (estimate)4,5701,7471,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Laurel, MS

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Laurel crime rate is 123.1% higher than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Laurel, there were 105 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 615 per 100,000 individuals, 66.4% higher than the national average. Additionally, Laurel recorded 780 property crimes, amounting to 4570 per 100,000 residents, 133.9% higher than the U.S. average.

In Laurel, the crime rate stands at 5186 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average by 123.12%. This places the city among those with some of the highest total crime rates nationwide. However, it's important to recognize that this doesn't imply that the entire city is unsafe. As with any urban area, there are neighborhoods in Laurel that exhibit varying levels of safety, emphasizing the need for localized crime prevention efforts and community involvement to create a safe environment across the entire city.

Although the murder rates in America have decreased steadily since 1990, over the last few years there has been an uptick. Laurel has one of the highest murder rates in the country when compared to all other cities that reported crime in the U.S. There were a total of 5 murders in Laurel, which is 29 murders per 100,000 people.

Laurel faces some of the nation's most elevated property crime rates, recording 4570 incidents per 100,000 people. This places the city among the worst 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Regrettably, the likelihood of falling victim to property crime in Laurel stands at 1 in 22, significantly surpassing the national average. These statistics underscore the imperative need for bolstered community safety measures to mitigate property crimes and enhance the well-being of its residents.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Laurel?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Laurel. Based on the results of the surveys (129 responses), 33% of people felt that there was very little crime in Laurel and felt safe walking alone at night. While 67% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Laurel a Safe Place to Live?

Is Laurel a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Laurel has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 123%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 2.42 daily incidents, encompassing 0.29 violent crimes and 2.14 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Laurel as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Laurel Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Laurel crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Laurel has decreased by 3.3% year over year. Violent crime has decreased by 7.1% and property crime has decreased by 2.7%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Laurel

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Laurel crime rate. The poverty level in Laurel is 30.6%, while the national average is 15.1%.

In Laurel, the cost of living is 19.17% lower than the national average. A substantial cost of living can burden residents, particularly those with constrained financial means. When individuals contend with steep housing expenses, grocery bills, utility costs, healthcare and essential needs that strain their budgets, they may turn to criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Conversely, cities characterized by a more affordable cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, which could potentially lead to decreased crime rates.

In Laurel, the median home price stands at $93,200, diverging from the national average of $184,700. Elevated housing costs often induce financial strain among residents. When individuals grapple with the challenges of affording housing, they may find themselves compelled to resort to criminal activities as a means of addressing their financial hardships, including acts like theft or fraud. This predicament is particularly pronounced in areas where housing affordability poses a persistent issue, giving rise to heightened concerns regarding crime. In such instances, some individuals and families may find themselves constrained to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, exacerbating stress levels and potentially fostering domestic disputes and associated criminal incidents.

Laurel crime map



The Laurel crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Laurel as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Laurel crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Laurel crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Laurel crime rates are 123% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Laurel are 66% higher than the national average
      • In Laurel you have a 1 in 20 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Laurel is safer than 7% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Laurel has increased by 3%

      Laurel, MS Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Laurel

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in Laurel?
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        See all Laurel poll results

        Daily Crime In Laurel (per 100,000 people)

        The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Laurel, Mississippi is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Laurel are 2.60 times more than the Mississippi average and 2.23 times more than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Laurel are 2.51 times more than than Mississippi and 1.66 times more than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Laurel are 2.62 times more than than Mississippi and 2.34 times more than the national average.

        How Safe is Laurel (higher is better)

        Are people any safer living in Laurel in comparison to other Mississippi communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Laurel safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Laurel being safer than 8% of cities in Mississippi and 7% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking Mississippi cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Laurel. In conclusion, Laurel ranks above average compared to the rest of the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Laurel

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Laurel is 1 in 163
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Laurel is 1 in 22
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Laurel is 1 in 20
        Are you at risk of becoming a victim of crime in Laurel, Mississippi? If you reside in Laurel, then there is a 1 in 163 chance that you will experience a violent crime. These types of crimes may include homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 22. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Altogether, there is a 1 in 20 risk that you will become a victim of crime in Laurel.

        Year Over Year Crime In Laurel (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for Laurel is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in Laurel has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have decreased by 1% in Laurel, while property crimes in Laurel have increased by 4%. Total crime has increased by 3% year over year.

        Laurel police department

        Item Laurel Mississippi National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)744,806558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents4.03.83.3
        There are a total of 74 Laurel police officers. This results in 4.0 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 4.2% greater than the Mississippi average and 21.9% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Mississippi

        State Total offenders Mississippi /100K National /100K
        Mississippi11,060380266
        There are a total of 11,060 sex offenders in Mississippi. This yields a total of 380 sex offenders in Mississippi per 100,000 residents which is 43% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Sharon, MS1,81090641731
        Ellisville, MS4,6711791,4551,634
        Soso, MS4742862,0422,328
        Heidelberg, MS9124761,9052,381
        Sandersville, MS66302,7072,707
        Laurel, MS18,4036154,5705,186

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Hopkins, MN18,4001992,3232,521
        Springboro, OH18,41631479509
        St. John, IN18,382125630755
        Niles, OH18,4292832,7203,004
        Rutherford, NJ18,376381,1731,210
        Laurel, MS18,4036154,5705,186
        Source: The Laurel, MS crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.