The Town FilesLaurel, Mississippi
City in Jones County · population 17,161 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $125,800
- Household income
- $47,661
- Jan low / Jul high
- 35° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 62
- Median age
- 35.1
Laurel is a city of 17,161 people in Jones County, Mississippi. The median home is worth $125,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Mississippi towns, more vibrant than 88% of Mississippi towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Mississippi towns.
How Laurel ranks
Percentile among Mississippi towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Mississippi towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel is worth $125,800, close to the typical Mississippi town ($124,700). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $47,661, which is more affordable than 66% of Mississippi towns. Median rent is $909 a month. 63.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $125,800 | $124,700 |
| Median rent | $909 | $820 |
| Median household income | $47,661 | $45,965 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 63.2% | 65.3% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.8% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Mississippi town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 37.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 16.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 19.4% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.3% | 22.9% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 4.0% |
| Average commute | 16.4 min | 23.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.7% | 83.3% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 34.6°F. About 59.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Mississippi town: 0.5 in). Expect about 82 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 41 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
62 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 31 for the typical Mississippi town. 29 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF4, struck on April 12, 2020 about 8.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 16 deaths and 604 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 74 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on March 6, 1996.
Severe weather in Jones County since 1996
Jones County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640: Severe Winter Storm |
| August 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes. |
| October 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626: Hurricane Ida |
| August 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Jones County
Jones County had 28,390 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,614 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Laurel
15 public schools with 8,251 students, about 13.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| WEST JONES HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 1,574 | 14.3 |
| WEST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 1,071 | 13.7 |
| NORTHEAST JONES HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 922 | 10.4 |
| NORTH JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 833 | 13.7 |
| EAST JONES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 782 | 13.0 |
| LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 715 | 19.3 |
| NORA DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | 2-4 | 506 | 14.9 |
| OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-1 | 427 | 12.2 |
| GLADE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 421 | 12.4 |
| LAUREL MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 380 | 15.2 |
| LAUREL MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS | PK-6 | 334 | 13.9 |
| LAUREL UPPER ELEMENTARY | 5-6 | 286 | 12.4 |
Towns near Laurel
- Ellisville, MS7.4 mi · 4,652 people · home $99,500
- Petal, MS24.2 mi · 11,010 people · home $174,900
- Hattiesburg, MS28.3 mi · 48,730 people · home $165,900
- West Hattiesburg, MS29.6 mi · 6,006 people · home $213,700
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Mississippi a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 17% of Mississippi towns and quieter than 31%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.1).
How much does a house cost in Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel is valued at $125,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,661, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $909 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 93.2°F and January lows 34.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
62 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF4 on April 12, 2020. The typical Mississippi town has had 31.
- 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)