City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Laurel Hill, NC

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

916
Residents
$26,250
Median income
$90,500
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Laurel Hill - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Laurel Hill places in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
6th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Laurel Hill, NC

North Carolina's Laurel Hill is a small town, with 916 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Laurel Hill brings in $26,250 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 40.6%. Laurel Hill's housing stock carries a median value of $90,500, and the median resident age is 35.5 years. About 8.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 44.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 2 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts North Carolina at 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $925 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $215 across North Carolina, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 63.6 out of 100 (Moderate).

Population

916 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$26,250 /yr

Poverty 40.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Laurel Hill compare to other US cities?

Laurel Hill measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 6% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

North Carolina-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Laurel Hill near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

Among the 746 North Carolina cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Laurel Hill ranks #552 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Laurel Hill only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#681 of 700
3rd percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#653 of 708
8th percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#23 of 746
97th percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#660 of 746
12th percentile in North Carolina

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 North Carolina only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Laurel Hill's home value compares nationally

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

$90,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 94% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Laurel Hill $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 - Laurel Hill, NC Laurel Hill, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Laurel Hill, NC-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 Laurel Hill, NC median $26,250/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%
Laurel Hill, NC'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 Laurel Hill, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 8.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 40.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 44.0%

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

Population
916
Median Income
$26,250
Median Home Value
$90,500
Median Age
35.5
Poverty Rate
40.6%
Labor force participation
44.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
8.4%

Schools

Total Schools
2
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.3%
Carpool
28.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.8%
Work from Home
0.0%

Based on 279 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for North Carolina - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$215
estimated/month

Estimates reflect North Carolina 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 North Carolina state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Laurel Hill sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$925/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
63.6 / 100
Moderate
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in North Carolina

Garland
914 people
Belwood
928 people
Oriental
930 people
Ellenboro
899 people
Wagram
899 people
Hollister
897 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurel Hill's 916 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Stephens, AR
916 people
Spaulding, IL
916 people
Buffalo City, WI
916 people
Brantley, AL
915 people
Hugo, CO
915 people
Milstead, GA
917 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurel Hill's $26,250 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Mosses, AL
$26,250 median income
Calico Rock, AR
$26,250 median income
Sunset, AR
$26,250 median income
Simmesport, LA
$26,250 median income
Silver Creek, MS
$26,250 median income
Scranton, SC
$26,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Laurel Hill, NC 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 Laurel Hill, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 34.8% 24.7% 20.4% 14.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 34.8% Black or African American 24.7% Asian 0.0% American Indian 20.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 5.8% Two or more races 14.3% 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 Laurel Hill compares to nearby North Carolina cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Laurel Hill (this city) 916 $26,250
Garland 914 $58,938
Belwood 928 $49,078
Oriental 930 $57,875
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Laurel Hill, NC?

What is the population of Laurel Hill, NC? +

The population of Laurel Hill, NC stands at 916 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Laurel Hill, NC? +

Laurel Hill households earn a median of $26,250 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Laurel Hill? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Laurel Hill; the closest available measure is the North Carolina state average, a cost of living index of 94.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within North Carolina vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Laurel Hill, NC? +

Homes in Laurel Hill carry a median value of $90,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, 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.