The Town FilesWest Laurel, Maryland
Community in Prince George's County · population 4,428 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $541,000
- Household income
- $164,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 26° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 16 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 25
- Median age
- 41.2
West Laurel is a community of 4,428 people in Prince George's County, Maryland. The median home is worth $541,000, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 99% of Maryland towns, better for families than 86% of Maryland towns, quieter than 86% of Maryland towns.
How West Laurel ranks
Percentile among Maryland towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Maryland towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in West Laurel is worth $541,000, above the typical Maryland town ($412,300). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $164,688, which is more affordable than 77% of Maryland towns. Median rent is $2,071 a month. 95.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | West Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $541,000 | $412,300 |
| Median rent | $2,071 | $1,748 |
| Median household income | $164,688 | $108,677 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 95.6% | 77.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in West Laurel
| People | West Laurel | Typical Maryland town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.2 | 40.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.0% | 16.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 46.8% | 39.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.6% | 7.1% |
| Veterans | 7.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 25.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 17.4% |
| Average commute | 36.6 min | 31.4 min |
| Homes with broadband | 98.0% | 94.3% |
Weather in West Laurel
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F. About 47.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 15.8 inches of snow (typical Maryland town: 15.9 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Laurel since 1950, compared with 18 for the typical Maryland town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 24, 2001 about 2.5 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 61 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 5, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 77 times; the largest was 3.50 inches on June 8, 1990.
Severe weather in Prince George's County since 1996
Prince George's County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3634: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4491: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3430: Covid-19 |
| March 4, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4261: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| November 20, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4091: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Prince George's County
Prince George's County had 329,476 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,373 a year. Unemployment was 2.2% in 2023; in West Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near West Laurel
- Scaggsville, MD1.8 mi · 9,217 people · home $668,500
- Laurel, MD2.2 mi · 30,060 people · home $385,500
- Burtonsville, MD2.4 mi · 9,498 people · home $488,800
- Konterra, MD2.4 mi · 3,158 people · home $459,700
- North Laurel, MD2.6 mi · 25,379 people · home $450,100
- Fulton, MD2.8 mi · 5,916 people · home $913,100
- Fairland, MD4.0 mi · 25,396 people · home $477,300
- Savage, MD4.3 mi · 7,542 people · home $424,300
West Laurel questions
Is West Laurel, Maryland a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, West Laurel scores better for retirees than 54% of Maryland towns and quieter than 86%. 16.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.2).
How much does a house cost in West Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in West Laurel is valued at $541,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $164,688, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $2,071 a month.
What is the weather like in West Laurel?
July highs average 88.6°F and January lows 26.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 47.5 inches of precipitation a year and 15.8 inches of snow.
Does West Laurel get tornadoes?
25 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of West Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 24, 2001. The typical Maryland town has had 18.
- 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)