The Town FilesLaurel, Montana
City in Yellowstone County · population 7,222 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,100
- Household income
- $68,474
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 37.1
Laurel is a city of 7,222 people in Yellowstone County, Montana. The median home is worth $235,100, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks more walkable than 97% of Montana towns, more vibrant than 89% of Montana towns, better transit than 81% of Montana towns.
How Laurel ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel is worth $235,100, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $68,474, which is more affordable than 70% of Montana towns. Median rent is $974 a month. 58.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,100 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $974 | $893 |
| Median household income | $68,474 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 58.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.5% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.8% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 12.1% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 19.1 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.9% | 86.6% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 15.1°F. About 14.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.1 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 158 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on July 20, 1997 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 20, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 53 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 20, 2010.
Severe weather in Yellowstone County since 1996
Yellowstone County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 16, 2022 | Flood | DR-4655: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 17, 2021 | Fire | FM-5399: Buffalo Wildfire |
| September 2, 2020 | Fire | FM-5344: Bobcat Fire |
| August 2, 2020 | Fire | FM-5324: Falling Star Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County had 87,348 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,688 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 2.4%.
Public schools in Laurel
5 public schools with 1,813 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel High School | 9-12 | 609 | 15.2 |
| Laurel Middle School | 5-8 | 551 | 15.3 |
| West School | 1-2 | 264 | 15.5 |
| Fred W Graff School | 3-4 | 237 | 14.8 |
| South School | PK-K | 152 | 15.2 |
Towns near Laurel
- Billings, MT13.4 mi · 117,116 people · home $343,400
- Lockwood, MT21.3 mi · 7,195 people · home $235,400
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 8% of Montana towns and quieter than 14%. 14.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.1).
How much does a house cost in Laurel?
The median owner-occupied home in Laurel is valued at $235,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,474, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $974 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 15.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 48.1 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on July 20, 1997. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)