The Town FilesLaurel, Florida
Community in Sarasota County · population 12,186 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $478,900
- Household income
- $92,340
- Jan low / Jul high
- 52° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 34
- Median age
- 63.7
Laurel is a community of 12,186 people in Sarasota County, Florida. The median home is worth $478,900, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for retirees than 88% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 88% of Florida towns, better for a vacation home than 82% of Florida towns.
How Laurel ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel is worth $478,900, above the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $92,340, which is more affordable than 33% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,323 a month. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $478,900 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,323 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $92,340 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 14.0% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 63.7 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 46.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 10.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.2% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 10.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.7% | — |
| Work from home | 23.7% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.9% | 92.4% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 51.6°F. About 51.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 120 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 17, 1985 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 52 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 11, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on May 27, 2002.
Severe weather in Sarasota County since 1996
Sarasota County has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| September 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828: Hurricane Helene |
| September 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615: Tropical Storm Helene |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
Jobs and pay in Sarasota County
Sarasota County had 190,078 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,133 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Towns near Laurel
- Nokomis, FL2.2 mi · 3,217 people · home $231,800
- Osprey, FL3.0 mi · 6,690 people · home $750,000
- Venice, FL3.4 mi · 25,463 people · home $434,700
- Palmer Ranch, FL5.0 mi · 14,966 people · home $592,900
- Vamo, FL5.5 mi · 2,822 people · home $364,400
- Venice Gardens, FL5.9 mi · 3,402 people · home $347,200
- South Venice, FL7.7 mi · 15,619 people · home $337,300
- Plantation, FL7.7 mi · 5,034 people · home $417,700
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 88% of Florida towns and quieter than 81%. 46.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 63.7).
How much does a house cost in Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel is valued at $478,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,340, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $1,323 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 91.5°F and January lows 51.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.3 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
34 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 17, 1985. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)