City · Maryland
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel, city, in Prince George's County, Maryland. Laurel had 30,254 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 30,060 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 29,798 (±46). GEOID 2445900.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
30,254
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 30,060 · ACS 2020-2024: 29,798 ±46
Median household income
$100,504
±$7,755 (90% margin)
Maryland: $103,678
Median home value
$385,500
±$17,726 (90% margin)
Maryland: $419,900
Median gross rent
$1,873
±$53 (90% margin)
Maryland: $1,705
Where is Laurel and what county is it in?
Laurel is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland. It covers 4.8 square miles of land, 6,316 residents per square mile in 2020.
Laurel is in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 23 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Laurel, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 30,254 people lived in Laurel on July 1, 2025, up 0.6% since 2020, slower than Maryland (+1.4%). The 2020 Census counted 30,060 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 29,798 (±46).
| Measure | Laurel | Prince George's County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 29,798 ±46 | 959,754 | +4,031 |
| Households | 12,476 ±587 | 347,744 | +2,736 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.11 | 2.70 | −0.26 |
| Housing units | 13,124 ±603 | 365,506 | +2,734 |
Laurel's population since 2000
From 19,960 in 2000 to 30,254 in 2025: up 51.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Laurel 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 Laurel?
The median resident of Laurel is 36.3 years old; 21.2% are under 18 and 11.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 52.3%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 22.2%. 32.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Laurel | Prince George's County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 ±1.1 | 38.5 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.2% ±2.2 pts | 22.1% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.5% ±2.1 pts | 14.9% | – |
| Male | 45.7% ±2.1 pts | 48.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 22.2% ±3.7 pts | 22.5% | +6.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 12.1% ±2.0 pts | 10.8% | −9.1 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 52.3% ±3.9 pts | 58.2% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.2% ±2.8 pts | 3.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.6% ±1.4 pts | 3.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 32.9% ±2.6 pts | 25.3% | +4.1 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 36.4% ±2.8 pts | 30.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.8% ±1.1 pts | 6.8% | – |
| With a disability | 8.2% ±1.3 pts | 10.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.2% ±2.4 pts | 11.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 89.3% ±2.0 pts | 86.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 47.7% ±3.5 pts | 36.7% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 24.0% ±3.1 pts | 16.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 80.8% ±4.0 pts | 88.4% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.8% ±1.4 pts | 2.9% | – |
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 Laurel earn?
Half of Laurel's 12,476 households earn less than $100,504 a year (±$7,755), against $101,798 in Prince George's County and $103,678 in Maryland. In 2015-2019 it was $96,379 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.0% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Laurel | Prince George's County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $100,504 ±$7,755 | $101,798 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $117,027 ±$7,067 | $125,138 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,886 ±$3,080 | $46,366 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.0% ±2.2 pts | 10.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 14.9% ±6.6 pts | 14.6% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 10.9% ±2.5 pts | 12.2% | – |
| Households with a computer | 98.1% ±1.3 pts | 97.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 97.7% ±1.0 pts | 93.8% | – |
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 Laurel?
Owners occupy 44.2% of Laurel's occupied homes and renters 55.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $385,500 by its owner (±$17,726). The median renter pays $1,873 a month including utilities, and 36.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Laurel | Prince George's County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $385,500 ±$17,726 | $426,000 | +$54,443 |
| Median gross rent | $1,873 ±$53 | $1,799 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.1% ±7.0 pts | 43.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,311 ±$125 | $2,456 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.2% ±3.2 pts | 62.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 55.8% ±3.2 pts | 37.7% | – |
| Housing units | 13,124 ±603 | 365,506 | +2,734 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.0% ±1.6 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.9% ±1.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 20.7% ±2.9 pts | 49.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.8% ±1.1 pts | 1.5% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 12.9% ±2.4 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 6.0% ±1.8 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.5% ±2.3 pts | 9.2% | – |
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 Laurel building?
Builders took permits for 112 new housing units in Laurel in 2025 (112 in single-family houses), 3.7 per 1,000 residents against 2.1 across Maryland.
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 Laurel work and get to work?
65.1% of Laurel's workers drive alone and 17.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 30.9 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.7%.
| Measure | Laurel | Prince George's County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 78.3% ±2.7 pts | 69.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% ±1.2 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 65.1% ±4.0 pts | 60.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7% ±2.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.4% ±0.6 pts | 7.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.1% ±3.2 pts | 17.9% | +13.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 30.9 min ±1.7 | 35.2 min | −5.0 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 Laurel?
7 census tracts lie mostly in Laurel, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $80,745 (Tract 8001.02) to $135,119 (Tract 8001.06).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 8001.09Prince George's County | 4,544 | $100,909 |
| Tract 8001.08Prince George's County | 3,736 | $95,217 |
| Tract 8001.02Prince George's County | 2,759 | $80,745 |
| Tract 8002.12Prince George's County | 7,567 | $112,500 |
| Tract 8001.05Prince George's County | 3,500 | $109,709 |
| Tract 8002.13Prince George's County | 4,163 | $96,961 |
| Tract 8001.03Prince George's County | 2,317 | $87,008 |
| Tract 8001.06Prince George's County | 3,539 | $135,119 |
| Tract 8002.11Prince George's County | 3,219 | $86,101 |
| Tract 8002.09Prince George's County | 4,161 | $59,096 |
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 Laurel) · Census block assignment files
How does Laurel compare with other places in Maryland?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Laurel is the 1,354th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 10th-most populous of 157 in Maryland.
Laurel ranks 188th of 322 places in Maryland with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 10th | 157 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 60th | 99 |
| Residents per square mile | 30th | 326 |
| Median household income | 188th | 322 |
| Per capita income | 178th | 326 |
| Median home value | 194th | 323 |
| Median gross rent | 122nd | 288 |
| Poverty rate | 112th | 230 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 110th | 325 |
| Median age | 253rd | 326 |
| Owner-occupied share | 301st | 323 |
| Work from home | 168th | 293 |
| Travel time to work | 176th | 325 |
Laurel's figures with every place in Maryland (CSV)
Every place in Maryland, sortable · Compare Laurel 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 Laurel?
6 of the 57 figures for Laurel 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 Laurel 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 Laurel.