City profile · North Carolina · Census ACS 2023

Laurinburg, NC

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

15,079
Residents
$39,258
Median income
$121,500
Median home
$925
Median rent (state)

Laurinburg - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Laurinburg lands in the 7th percentile for household income and the 1st percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

7th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
7th
percentile, median rent
1st
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: Laurinburg, NC

15,079 people live in Laurinburg, North Carolina - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Laurinburg brings in $39,258 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 29.0%. Laurinburg's housing stock carries a median value of $121,500, and the median resident age is 37.9 years. 18.8% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 47.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Laurinburg's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 6936.1 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 63.7°F with 46.6 inches of precipitation per year and 1.1 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in North Carolina run below the national norm: the state registers 94.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $925 per month. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts North Carolina's average monthly utility costs around $215 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 63.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Moderate).

Population

15,079 residents

Census ACS 2023 - North Carolina

Median Household Income

$39,258 /yr

Poverty 29.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, North Carolina average

How does Laurinburg compare to other US cities?

Here's how Laurinburg stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 7% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 7% pricier than other cities
Safety 1% safer than other cities

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

Zoom in to just North Carolina and the picture shifts: Laurinburg ranks #186 of 195 North Carolina cities by lowest crime rate, a different read than the national percentile above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Laurinburg 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 Laurinburg near the bottom of North Carolina's cities

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

Median Household Income
#590 of 700
16th percentile in North Carolina
Median Gross Rent
#552 of 746
0th percentile in North Carolina
Median Home Value
#560 of 708
21st percentile in North Carolina
Poverty Rate
#66 of 746
91st percentile in North Carolina
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#443 of 746
40th 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.

7thIncome percentile
1stSafety percentile

7th percentile nationally for median household income · 1st percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Laurinburg's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Laurinburg'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 32 Avg. percentile National median
Laurinburg'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 Laurinburg's home value compares nationally

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

$121,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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. Laurinburg $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 - Laurinburg, NC Laurinburg, NC's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Laurinburg, 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 Laurinburg, NC median $39,258/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%
Laurinburg, 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 Laurinburg, NC. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 29.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 47.4%

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

Population
15,079
Median Income
$39,258
Median Home Value
$121,500
Median Age
37.9
Poverty Rate
29.0%
Labor force participation
47.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.8%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
6936.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
1894.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
5042.0
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
63.7°F
Annual Precipitation
46.6"
Annual Snowfall
1.1"

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
14,400 residents14,600 residents14,800 residents15,000 residents15,200 residents 202020212022202320242025 15,094 residents 14,582 residents ▼ -3.4%
Laurinburg's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.0%
Carpool
10.4%
Public Transit
0.1%
Walk
0.9%
Work from Home
7.9%
Other
0.7%

Based on 5,388 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 Laurinburg 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

Roanoke Rapids
15,024 people
Belmont
15,140 people
Henderson
14,922 people
Hendersonville
15,253 people
Davidson
14,852 people
Eden
15,353 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurinburg's 15,079 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Park, FL
15,076 people
Beech Grove, IN
15,082 people
Berkley, MI
15,084 people
Riverhead, NY
15,073 people
Rossville, MD
15,088 people
Highland Springs, VA
15,091 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurinburg's $39,258 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Luzerne, PA
$39,257 median income
Libby, MT
$39,261 median income
Hiltonia, GA
$39,250 median income
Emmett, KS
$39,250 median income
Nelliston, NY
$39,250 median income
Oilton, TX
$39,250 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Laurinburg, 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 Laurinburg, NC - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 33.8% 48.0% 7.4% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.2% White 33.8% Black or African American 48.0% Asian 2.3% American Indian 7.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.2% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Laurinburg 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
Laurinburg (this city) 15,079 $39,258
Roanoke Rapids 15,024 $53,981
Belmont 15,140 $86,442
Henderson 14,922 $38,780
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NC FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Laurinburg, NC?

What is the population of Laurinburg, NC? +

Laurinburg, NC counts 15,079 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Laurinburg, NC? +

In Laurinburg, the typical household earns $39,258 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Laurinburg? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Laurinburg; 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.

Is Laurinburg, NC safe? +

Laurinburg has a total crime rate of 6936.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above 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 Laurinburg, NC? +

Homes in Laurinburg carry a median value of $121,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Laurinburg? +

The average annual temperature in Laurinburg runs 63.7°F, 46.6 inches of precipitation, and 1.1 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.