City profile · New Jersey · Census ACS 2023

Laurel Lake, NJ

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

2,514
Residents
$51,633
Median income
$138,100
Median home
$1,673
Median rent (state)

Laurel Lake - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Laurel Lake lands in the 22nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

22nd
percentile, household income
23rd
percentile, home value
66th
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 Lake, NJ

Laurel Lake is a small town in New Jersey, home to 2,514 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Laurel Lake households earn a median of $51,633 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 9.6%. Home values in Laurel Lake run a median of $138,100, and the median resident age is 44.1 years. 9.7% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 53.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

New Jersey carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, New Jersey scores 108.8 (Well Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,673 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in New Jersey run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 82.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

2,514 residents

Census ACS 2023 - New Jersey

Median Household Income

$51,633 /yr

Poverty 9.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

108.8 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, New Jersey average

How does Laurel Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 22% higher than other cities
Home value 23% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% 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 Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to New Jersey only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

New Jersey-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Laurel Lake near the bottom of New Jersey's cities

Among the 686 New Jersey cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Laurel Lake ranks #663 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Laurel Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#636 of 659
3rd percentile in New Jersey
Median Gross Rent
#663 of 686
0th percentile in New Jersey
Median Home Value
#657 of 672
2nd percentile in New Jersey
Poverty Rate
#102 of 680
84th percentile in New Jersey
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#668 of 686
3rd percentile in New Jersey

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 New Jersey only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

22ndIncome percentile

22nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Laurel Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$138,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 77% 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%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Lake $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 Lake, NJ Laurel Lake, NJ's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Laurel Lake, NJ-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 Lake, NJ median $51,633/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 Lake, NJ'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 Lake, NJ. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 9.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 53.7%

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

Population
2,514
Median Income
$51,633
Median Home Value
$138,100
Median Age
44.1
Poverty Rate
9.6%
Labor force participation
53.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
9.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
84.0%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
3.6%
Other
1.8%

Based on 1,033 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for New Jersey - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$95
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$60
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect New Jersey 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 New Jersey state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Laurel Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
108.8
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,673/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
82.6 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in New Jersey

Whittingham
2,516 people
Belvidere
2,526 people
East Newark
2,529 people
West Berlin
2,533 people
Beverly
2,489 people
Peapack and Gladstone
2,547 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurel Lake's 2,514 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Le Center, MN
2,514 people
Silver Lake, OH
2,514 people
North Prairie, WI
2,514 people
Pelican Marsh, FL
2,513 people
Buckeye Lake, OH
2,513 people
Fairfield University, CT
2,516 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Laurel Lake's $51,633 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Factoryville, PA
$51,635 median income
Springfield, FL
$51,640 median income
Glenns Ferry, ID
$51,625 median income
Dowell, IL
$51,625 median income
Weir, KS
$51,625 median income
Waterbury, CT
$51,642 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Laurel Lake, NJ 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 Lake, NJ - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 74.3% 22.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 14.6% White 74.3% Black or African American 2.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 22.1% 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 Laurel Lake compares to nearby New Jersey 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 Lake (this city) 2,514 $51,633
Whittingham 2,516 $75,764
Belvidere 2,526 $100,334
East Newark 2,529 $65,272
Census ACS 5-year FIPS NJ OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Laurel Lake, NJ?

What is the population of Laurel Lake, NJ? +

Laurel Lake, NJ counts 2,514 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Laurel Lake, NJ? +

In Laurel Lake, the typical household earns $51,633 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Laurel Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Laurel Lake; the closest available measure is the New Jersey state average, a cost of living index of 108.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within New Jersey vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Laurel Lake, NJ? +

Homes in Laurel Lake carry a median value of $138,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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