City profile · Michigan · Census ACS 2023

Lawrence, MI

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lawrence - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,186
Residents
$36,188
Median income
$106,700
Median home
$1,016
Median rent (state)

Lawrence - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lawrence lands in the 5th percentile for household income and the 60th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

5th
percentile, household income
12th
percentile, home value
21st
percentile, median rent
60th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lawrence, MI

Lawrence is a small town in Michigan, home to 1,186 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Lawrence households earn a median of $36,188 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 36.2%. Home values in Lawrence run a median of $106,700, and the median resident age is 33.0 years. Educational attainment runs 13.6% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 54.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). Lawrence reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 1089.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Michigan run below the national norm: the state registers 96.2 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,016 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Michigan run around $238, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 60.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

1,186 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Michigan

Median Household Income

$36,188 /yr

Poverty 36.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

96.2 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Michigan average

How does Lawrence compare to other US cities?

Where Lawrence sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 5% higher than other cities
Home value 12% pricier than other cities
Median rent 21% pricier than other cities
Safety 60% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Michigan, Lawrence ranks #110 of 254 Michigan cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lawrence against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Michigan only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Michigan-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Lawrence's strongest outlier among Michigan cities

Among the 727 Michigan cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lawrence ranks #10 - the 98th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lawrence only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#686 of 718
4th percentile in Michigan
Median Gross Rent
#500 of 727
29th percentile in Michigan
Median Home Value
#544 of 721
24th percentile in Michigan
Poverty Rate
#10 of 727
98th percentile in Michigan
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#521 of 727
28th percentile in Michigan

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Michigan only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

5thIncome percentile
60thSafety percentile

5th percentile nationally for median household income · 60th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lawrence's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lawrence's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 50 Avg. percentile National median
Lawrence's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lawrence's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$106,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 88% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lawrence $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lawrence, MI Lawrence, MI's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lawrence, MI-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lawrence, MI median $36,188/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lawrence, MI's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lawrence, MI. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 36.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 54.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,186
Median Income
$36,188
Median Home Value
$106,700
Median Age
33.0
Poverty Rate
36.2%
Labor force participation
54.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1089.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
297.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
792.1
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,000 residents1,005 residents1,010 residents1,015 residents1,020 residents1,025 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,020 residents 1,005 residents ▼ -1.5%
Lawrence's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
82.7%
Carpool
10.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.3%
Work from Home
3.9%
Other
1.8%

Based on 467 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Michigan - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$105
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$48
avg/month
Total Utilities
$238
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Michigan state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Michigan state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lawrence sits in

Cost of Living Index
96.2
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,016/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
60.5 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Michigan

North Branch
1,199 people
Luna Pier
1,204 people
Baldwin
1,161 people
Brown City
1,211 people
Carson City
1,161 people
Frankfort
1,158 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lawrence's 1,186 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Clay City, IN
1,186 people
Urania, LA
1,186 people
Rose Lodge, OR
1,186 people
Kittitas, WA
1,186 people
Monticello, WI
1,186 people
Hampton, AR
1,185 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lawrence's $36,188 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Welch, WV
$36,188 median income
Wheeler, IN
$36,184 median income
Wabbaseka, AR
$36,174 median income
Emporium, PA
$36,167 median income
Elton, LA
$36,211 median income
Loris, SC
$36,158 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lawrence, MI Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lawrence, MI - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 67.0% 23.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 40.8% White 67.0% Black or African American 0.6% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 23.4% Two or more races 5.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lawrence compares to nearby Michigan cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lawrence (this city) 1,186 $36,188
North Branch 1,199 $42,500
Luna Pier 1,204 $51,830
Baldwin 1,161 $23,631
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MI FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lawrence, MI?

What is the population of Lawrence, MI? +

1,186 people live in Lawrence, MI according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lawrence, MI? +

In Lawrence, the typical household earns $36,188 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lawrence? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lawrence; the closest available measure is the Michigan state average, a cost of living index of 96.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Michigan vary by metro area.

Is Lawrence, MI safe? +

Lawrence has a total crime rate of 1089.1 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lawrence, MI? +

The median home value in Lawrence is $106,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.