Laurel, Indiana, 2016
Laurel’s story
190 years in pictures
Census counts: 670 in 1860, a peak of 848 in 1960, 406 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2016 and a map from 1953 on.
- 1836Laurel is platted
LaurelIN
A town of 414, platted in 1836.
Photo: Chris Flook · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
414
2025 Census estimate · +1.2% since 2020
Typical home
$234K
+3.4% in a year
Household income
$28K
median
Median age
36.7
years
Jobs based here
20
A commuter town
Is Laurel a good place to live?
35% of residents live below the poverty line in Laurel, above both Indiana’s towns (10%) and U.S. towns (9.6%). Among 594 Indiana towns, just 1 have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Laurel. Laurel has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What makes Laurel stand out
Where Laurel beats most towns.
Small town
414 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Laurel: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Laurel, and how to reach them.
PowerDuke Energy15.0¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLaurel Water Department5 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet2 providers93% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Laurel’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Indiana you can register online until 29 days before Election Day, in person until 29 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 29 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFranklin Circuit Court ClerkFranklin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2021
ZIP code4702447024 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Laurel.
Natural hazards
Laurel stands out in Indiana and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
At 82 of 100, Laurel’s FEMA risk score is above both the Indiana town median (38 of 100) and the median of U.S. towns (44 of 100). Since 2005, 6 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Laurel.
82risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesStrong wind
6
paid flood claims since 2005
4
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
In Laurel, the median household income runs lower than in the typical Indiana or U.S. town
Laurel’s median household income is $28,000. Most working residents leave Laurel for work: only 1% work in town. Laurel’s average trip to work is 30 minutes.
1%work in town
| Laurel | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $28,000 | $71,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.2% | 11% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Laurel1%
Indianapolis12%
Batesville8%
Greensburg8%
Rushville5%
30 mi
median commute distance
20
jobs based in Laurel
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Laurel has four seasons and pleasant summers
Laurel has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 85°, January nights drop to 21° and about 18 inches of snow falls in a winter.
18″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–40°
Spring42–64°
Summer62–84°
Fall44–66°
Oct 21
typical first frost
Apr 20
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Laurel is
Laurel beats the Indiana average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 8. 21% of adults smoke cigarettes in Laurel.
| Laurel | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 18% | 17% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 43% | 39% | 35% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 26% | 23% |
32 measures vs. Indiana
0 better24 too close to call8 worse
| What stands out | Laurel | IN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 21.2% | 15.4% |
| More smokers | 21.3% | 15.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 10.5% | 8.1% |
Margaret Mary Community Hospital
13.8 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A typical Laurel home is worth about $234K
The typical Laurel home is worth about $234,000, up 3.4% in a year, 9% below the Indiana typical home.
$234KZillow home value
| Laurel | Indiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 69% | 76% | 73% |
| Median rent | $956 a month | $947 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Laurel$234K
Indiana$257K
+3.4%
value change, 1 year
2
homes sold in April
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Laurel
17pages on Laurel
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Laurel; the nearest are
Miami University-OxfordUniversity or college · Public · Oxford, OH24.3 mi$18,161 in-state tuitionGateway Community and Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · Florence, KY47.7 mi$4,728 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Laurel residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Indiana.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Laurel for work
Where Laurel’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
20jobs based in Laurel
1%of working residents work in town
30 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Laurel
Town in Indiana, United States
Laurel is a town in Laurel Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Laurel had a population of 406.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 725 ft
- ZIP code
- 47024
- Area code
- 765
Questions about Laurel
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Laurel, IN a good place to live?
Laurel has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
What is Laurel, IN known for?
Laurel was platted in 1836. 2 notable people were born here, including Charles Murray and Robert B. F. Peirce.