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City Housing Verdict

Laurel, FL

High Pressure

The cost of living in Laurel, FL is 15% above the national average (Cost Index: 115). Homes here are typically valued around $450,200, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $89,282 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.

Laurel already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 19% rent burden, 5x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 148. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Laurel.

Monthly Housing
$1,411/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
19%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$5,529/mo
After housing and debt · $1,843/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 26%
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Cost Index
115
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$450,200
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,411/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$89,282
National: $78,538
Population
11,868
Purchasing Power
99
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
148 / 100
48% above average
Rent Index
105 / 100
Close to average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
115
Expensive · 15% above average

Laurel Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $450,200 and Florida's property tax rate of 0.86%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$89,282
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
19%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Laurel looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Laurel, FL

Est. Annual Property Tax
$3,872
Monthly Impact
$323
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.86%
National avg: ~1.00%

Florida Place Tax Context

Tax TypeFloridaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.86%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales Tax7.01%~5.0%

Compare Laurel to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Laurel, FL
115
105
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Laurel, FL: 148
Rent Prices
105

FAQ: Living in Laurel

Is Laurel, FL an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Laurel is about 15% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 115. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $450,200, and monthly rents average roughly $1,411. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Laurel fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,411, while local median household income is $89,282. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 19% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Laurel, FL?+

Florida is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 0.86%. On a home worth $450,200, that translates to roughly $3,872 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 7.01% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Laurel, FL?+

The typical monthly rent in Laurel is around $1,411. That's close to the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $450,200, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Laurel, FL?+

The median home in Laurel is valued at $450,200. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,276/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 88% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Laurel?+

Grocery prices in Laurel are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Laurel, FL like to live in?+

Laurel is a small town with a population of about 11,868. The median age of residents is 62.9, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 5.46%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Florida

If Laurel feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Florida

Use these city pages when you want to compare Laurel against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly