Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Employment
The combination of low income levels and high unemployment rates contributes to a low score in the employment category, which could make it challenging to secure well-paying jobs.
Schools
Factors such as lower than average graduation rates, lackluster reading and math scores and the limited accessibility of local elementary and high schools could contribute to the low schools score.
Laurel, Mississippi is a medium-sized city with a population of 18,971 residents. If you are not a fan of long commutes, you will enjoy living in Laurel. With an average one way commute time of only 19 minutes, getting to and from work is a breeze compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Laurel is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before relocating to any new city in Mississippi, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. To help you find the best places to live in and around Laurel, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like cost of living, commute, education, employment and more.
Laurel has a livability score of 69/100 and is ranked #47 in Mississippi and #7,981 in the USA. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Laurel has higher than average rankings for the following: housing (A+). Laurel does not score well for the following: crime (F), education (D-) and employment (F). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.
For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Laurel apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.
Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Laurel. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Laurel are affordable. The median home price for Laurel homes is $170,515, which is 9.1% lower than the Mississippi average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Laurel, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 6.5% higher than the Mississippi average.
| Statistic | Laurel | Mississippi | National |
| Average one way commute | 19min | 24min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 87.2% | 84.7% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 8.5% | 9.7% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.0% | 0.4% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 0.5% | 1.5% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 1.3% | 2.2% | 4.6% |
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