City · Iowa
Laurens, Iowa
Laurens, city, in Pocahontas County, Iowa. Laurens had 1,217 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 3.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,264 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,206 (±179). GEOID 1943725.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,217
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,264 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,206 ±179
Median household income
$48,988
±$10,053 (90% margin)
Iowa: $75,059
Median home value
$60,300
±$18,243 (90% margin)
Iowa: $208,000
Median gross rent
$805
±$93 (90% margin)
Iowa: $972
Where is Laurens and what county is it in?
Laurens is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa. It covers 0.8 square miles of land, 1,670 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Laurens, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,217 people lived in Laurens on July 1, 2025, down 3.9% since 2020, while Iowa grew 1.5%. The 2020 Census counted 1,264 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,206 (±179).
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,206 ±179 | 7,046 | no clear change |
| Households | 530 ±70 | 3,000 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.22 ±0.30 | 2.31 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 657 ±75 | 3,651 | no clear change |
Laurens's population since 2000
From 1,476 in 2000 to 1,217 in 2025: down 17.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Laurens as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Laurens?
The median resident of Laurens is 47.2 years old; 18.5% are under 18 and 24.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.8%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.9%. 3.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 ±8.9 | 43.7 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 18.5% ±4.9 pts | 23.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.0% ±6.0 pts | 23.9% | – |
| Male | 47.9% ±3.5 pts | 50.0% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.9% ±4.2 pts | 5.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.8% ±4.8 pts | 88.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7% ±2.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±1.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±2.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±2.0 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.6% ±2.0 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.6% ±2.7 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.7% ±3.2 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 19.4% ±6.5 pts | 16.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.6% ±2.2 pts | 7.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5% ±7.7 pts | 90.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.9% ±4.5 pts | 18.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.7% ±2.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.3% ±6.8 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.8% ±0.9 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Laurens earn?
Half of Laurens's 530 households earn less than $48,988 a year (±$10,053), against $61,875 in Pocahontas County and $75,059 in Iowa. In 2015-2019 it was $56,260 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,988 ±$10,053 | $61,875 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $70,686 ±$10,452 | $77,538 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,429 ±$4,340 | $34,057 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.0% ±8.4 pts | 10.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 22.2% ±14.4 pts | 8.8% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 12.5% ±3.7 pts | 7.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.8% ±3.0 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.9% ±4.3 pts | 85.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Laurens?
Owners occupy 76.8% of Laurens's occupied homes and renters 23.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $60,300 by its owner (±$18,243). The median renter pays $805 a month including utilities, and 34.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $60,300 ±$18,243 | $98,100 | −$20,803 |
| Median gross rent | $805 ±$93 | $832 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 34.2% ±14.2 pts | 25.0% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,070 ±$62 | $1,151 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 76.8% ±7.9 pts | 77.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 23.2% ±7.9 pts | 22.7% | – |
| Housing units | 657 ±75 | 3,651 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±5.7 pts | 1.0% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 19.6% ±15.9 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 88.9% ±4.6 pts | 89.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.1% ±1.9 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 0.0% ±3.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 35.5% ±7.3 pts | 41.6% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.9% ±5.4 pts | 4.6% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Laurens building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units in Laurens in 2025 (0 in single-family houses), 0.0 per 1,000 residents against 4.2 across Iowa.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Laurens work and get to work?
82.3% of Laurens's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 22.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 6.3%.
| Measure | Laurens | Pocahontas County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.5% ±6.8 pts | 61.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% ±3.6 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 82.3% ±7.2 pts | 79.9% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.6% ±5.2 pts | 11.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±4.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 2.8% ±2.8 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.0% ±2.0 pts | 5.4% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 22.4 min ±5.9 | 20.7 min | +9.6 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Laurens?
No census tract lies mostly in Laurens; 1 tract reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 7801Pocahontas County | 1,958 | $60,889 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Laurens) · Census block assignment files
How does Laurens compare with other places in Iowa?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Laurens is the 9,541st-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 238th-most populous of 939 in Iowa.
Laurens ranks 270th of 279 places in Iowa with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 238th | 939 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 255th | 275 |
| Residents per square mile | 34th | 279 |
| Median household income | 270th | 279 |
| Per capita income | 229th | 279 |
| Median home value | 279th | 279 |
| Median gross rent | 161st | 266 |
| Poverty rate | 49th | 232 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 262nd | 279 |
| Median age | 28th | 279 |
| Owner-occupied share | 110th | 279 |
| Travel time to work | 92nd | 279 |
Laurens's figures with every place in Iowa (CSV)
Every place in Iowa, sortable · Compare Laurens with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Laurens?
15 of the 57 figures for Laurens on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Laurens are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Laurens.