The Town FilesLaurel, Virginia
Community in Henrico County · population 17,769 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,600
- Household income
- $73,609
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 15 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 27
- Median age
- 35.1
Laurel is a community of 17,769 people in Henrico County, Virginia. The median home is worth $283,600, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 93% of Virginia towns, more vibrant than 84% of Virginia towns, better for young professionals than 77% of Virginia towns.
How Laurel ranks
Percentile among Virginia towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Virginia towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Laurel is worth $283,600, close to the typical Virginia town ($298,050). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $73,609, which is more affordable than 48% of Virginia towns. Median rent is $1,616 a month. 51.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Laurel | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,600 | $298,050 |
| Median rent | $1,616 | $1,254 |
| Median household income | $73,609 | $78,595 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 51.8% | 69.2% |
| Median year built | 1982 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Laurel
| People | Laurel | Typical Virginia town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.1 | 39.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 11.8% | 17.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 29.8% | 31.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.4% | 8.8% |
| Veterans | 3.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 21.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.7% | 12.8% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 26.3 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.1% | 91.8% |
Weather in Laurel
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 27.9°F. About 45.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 14.7 inches of snow (typical Virginia town: 13.4 in). Expect about 43 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 88 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950, compared with 11 for the typical Virginia town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on September 17, 2018 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 15 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 17, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 97 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 5, 2004.
Severe weather in Henrico County since 1996
Henrico County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, freezing.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 23, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3631: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2020 | Biological | DR-4512: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3448: Covid-19 |
| September 11, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3403: Hurricane Florence |
| March 7, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4262: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
Jobs and pay in Henrico County
Henrico County had 187,647 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $70,541 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Laurel itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Towns near Laurel
- Dumbarton, VA1.7 mi · 8,506 people · home $291,300
- Lakeside, VA2.3 mi · 12,203 people · home $288,200
- Glen Allen, VA2.4 mi · 16,187 people · home $357,200
- Innsbrook, VA4.0 mi · 8,998 people · home $463,500
- Chamberlayne, VA4.4 mi · 5,581 people · home $351,100
- Tuckahoe, VA5.6 mi · 48,051 people · home $462,800
- Short Pump, VA6.3 mi · 30,626 people · home $568,900
- Wyndham, VA6.9 mi · 11,087 people · home $703,000
Laurel questions
Is Laurel, Virginia a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Laurel scores better for retirees than 5% of Virginia towns and quieter than 15%. 11.8% 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 $283,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $73,609, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,616 a month.
What is the weather like in Laurel?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 27.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.8 inches of precipitation a year and 14.7 inches of snow.
Does Laurel get tornadoes?
27 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Laurel since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on September 17, 2018. The typical Virginia town has had 11.
- 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)