Small-town market profile · Mississippi
Laurel, MS area market data
How the Laurel area compares with other small-town markets for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 82,281
- −1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 31,604
- Median household income
- $51,236
- +26.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $132,900
- Jobs located here
- 32,859
- Highest market score
- 71
- Landscaping and lawn care, #56 of 399 scored small-town markets
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in the Laurel area by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of the Laurel area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
The Laurel area has an estimated 82,281 people and 31,604 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of the Laurel area declined 1.5%, against +3.1% for the U.S. Median household income in the Laurel area is $51,236, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 26.2%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in the Laurel area runs highest on vehicle insurance (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Of the business types scored in the Laurel area, landscaping and lawn care companies (71), pet businesses (67) and real estate agents and brokers (65) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For landscaping and lawn care companies, that ranks #56 of 399 scored small-town markets.
The Laurel area takes in 2 counties: Jones County and Jasper County. Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in the Laurel area
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares the Laurel area with other small-town markets for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among small-town markets | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and lawn care | 71 | #56 of 399 | 10 | 3.2 | $4M | 137 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 67 | #76 of 527 | 21 | 6.6 | $1.1M | 125 | 6 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 65 | #76 of 533 | 30 | 9.5 | Index only | 256 | 6 |
| Real estate | 65 | #85 of 536 | 38 | 12.0 | Index only | 254 | 11 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | 62 | #123 of 481 | 21 | 6.6 | $1.9M | 113 | 23 |
| Physical therapy | 60 | #128 of 400 | 8 | 2.5 | $3.8M | 157 | 5 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | 59 | #125 of 387 | 5 | 1.6 | $4.6M | 181 | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | 59 | #146 of 476 | 10 | 3.2 | $7.7M | 161 | 22 |
| Veterinarians | 57 | #147 of 398 | 10 | 3.2 | $2.3M | 85 | 6 |
| Laundromats | 56 | #53 of 150 | 5 | 1.6 | $10.2M | 81 | 3 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 56 | #203 of 538 | 130 | 41.1 | $763K | 115 | 32 |
| Insurance agencies | 55 | #217 of 537 | 46 | 14.6 | $1.7M | 133 | 32 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | 53 | #83 of 177 | 5 | 1.6 | Index only | 215 | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | 52 | #168 of 365 | 14 | 4.4 | $352K | 52 | 5 |
| Home repair trades | 51 | #254 of 526 | 26 | 8.2 | $2.9M | 121 | 45 |
| Optometrists and eye care | 50 | #206 of 400 | 10 | 3.2 | $3M | 96 | 4 |
| Car washes and detailing | 49 | #222 of 441 | 9 | 2.8 | $3M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Pest control | 48 | #47 of 85 | 8 | 2.5 | $5M | 49 | 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | 48 | #204 of 387 | 9 | 2.8 | $3M | 97 | 8 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 48 | #301 of 538 | 107 | 33.9 | $223K | 105 | 5 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | 46 | #216 of 378 | 7 | 2.2 | $2.4M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | 45 | #172 of 288 | 8 | 2.5 | $9.6M | 113 | Under 3 |
| Pizza | 44 | #312 of 520 | 15 | 4.7 | $6.6M | 130 | 71 |
| Spas and skin care | 44 | #317 of 504 | 16 | 5.1 | $1.5M | 170 | Under 3 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 44 | #329 of 538 | 253 | 80.1 | $392K | 106 | 130 |
| Electricians | 43 | #193 of 295 | 8 | 2.5 | $9.6M | 80 | 23 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 41 | #360 of 538 | 178 | 56.3 | $169K | 111 | 61 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | 41 | #373 of 535 | 34 | 10.8 | $495K | 75 | 4 |
| Child care and preschools | 40 | #315 of 454 | 14 | 4.4 | $751K | 75 | 17 |
| Auto repair and car care | 40 | #378 of 538 | 127 | 40.2 | $213K | 79 | 37 |
| Tire shops | 38 | #313 of 431 | 20 | 6.3 | $1.4M | 54 | 3 |
| Auto repair shops | 37 | #401 of 538 | 74 | 23.4 | $365K | 82 | 29 |
| Nail salons | 35 | #298 of 387 | 12 | 3.8 | $2M | 119 | Under 3 |
| Gyms | 34 | #421 of 506 | 26 | 8.2 | $647K | 50 | 4 |
| Grocery stores | 32 | #415 of 506 | 33 | 10.4 | $5.2M | 56 | 10 |
| Gas stations | 32 | #443 of 536 | 60 | 19.0 | $1.5M | 63 | 52 |
| Hair salons | 32 | #464 of 538 | 58 | 18.4 | $412K | 96 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | 30 | #378 of 458 | 31 | 9.8 | $973K | 55 | 24 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 28 | #481 of 529 | 29 | 9.2 | $3.4M | 92 | 23 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | 27 | #462 of 536 | 69 | 21.8 | $736K | 84 | 26 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 26 | #467 of 507 | 26 | 8.2 | $3.8M | 92 | 23 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | 26 | #468 of 536 | 54 | 17.1 | $941K | 74 | 23 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | 23 | #498 of 526 | 32 | 10.1 | $942K | 96 | 25 |
| Convenience stores | 21 | #477 of 529 | 46 | 14.6 | $3.7M | 47 | 15 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 21 | #489 of 538 | 88 | 27.8 | $1.9M | 57 | 25 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | 18 | #505 of 537 | 52 | 16.5 | $1.9M | 62 | 71 |
| Barbershops | 17 | #346 of 377 | 19 | 6.0 | $1.3M | 67 | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 5 | 1.6 | $5.4M | 39 | 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 1.3 | $12.7M | 81 | Under 3 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $10.1M | 420 | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $13.3M | 208 | 8 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | $7.7M | 170 | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 0.9 | Index only | 251 | 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 0.6 | $15.1M | Too few | 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 0.3 | $16.8M | Too few | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in the Laurel area
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $27M | $855 | 89 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $89.5M | $2,831 | 109 |
| Food away from home | $99.1M | $3,137 | 77 |
| Groceries | $170.8M | $5,405 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $23.9M | $755 | 75 |
| Child care and other personal services | $10.5M | $332 | 57 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $16.8M | $532 | 54 |
| Medical and dental services | $30.2M | $954 | 74 |
| Pets | $23.1M | $731 | 80 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $50.8M | $1,607 | 78 |
| Vehicle insurance | $76.9M | $2,435 | 124 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $76.5M | $2,421 | 80 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $40M | $1,266 | 90 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $418.5M | $13,243 | 79 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in the Laurel area
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 82,281−1.5% since 2020
- Households
- 31,604
- Median age
- 39.1
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 77%
- Vehicles per household
- 1.9
- Land area
- 1,371 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 60
- Median household income
- $51,236+26.2% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $73,808
- Median home value
- $132,900
- Jobs located here
- 32,859
- Daytime population
- 82,735Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in the Laurel area?
These figures cover the whole small-town market. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of the Laurel area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Counties in the Laurel area 2
- Jones County, MS66,472 people
- Jasper County, MS16,059 people
Other markets based in Mississippi 12
- Jackson, MS metro area611,324 people
- Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area421,201 people
- Hattiesburg, MS metro area155,434 people
- Tupelo, MS area132,254 people
- Meridian, MS area86,818 people
- Oxford, MS area70,746 people
- Columbus, MS area67,863 people
- Starkville, MS area61,743 people
- Picayune, MS area57,458 people
- Natchez, MS-LA area54,045 people
- McComb, MS area53,441 people
- Vicksburg, MS area43,020 people
Questions
How fast is the Laurel, MS area growing?
Population estimates put the Laurel area at 82,281 people in 2025, down 1.5% since 2020, against +3.1% for the U.S. It has 31,604 households. Median household income rose 26.2% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in the Laurel, MS area spend?
Households in the Laurel area spend about $418.5M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $170.8M on groceries and $99.1M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in the Laurel area spend the most on vehicle insurance (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on memberships, classes and admissions (54).
Which business types have the highest market scores in the Laurel, MS area?
The highest Groundwork market scores in the Laurel area are for landscaping and lawn care companies (71), pet businesses (67) and real estate agents and brokers (65). The Laurel area ranks #56 of 399 scored small-town markets for landscaping and lawn care companies.
How does the Laurel, MS area compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in the Laurel area is $51,236 a year, 37% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population fell 1.5% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $132,900, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, the Laurel area has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for funeral homes (2.1 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for real estate agents and brokers (69% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. A small-town market is a town of 10,000 to 50,000 people and the county or counties tied to it by commuting. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 47 of the 56 business types have a score in the Laurel area, each ranked against other small-town markets.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in the Laurel area. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
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Screening a site or an acquisition in the Laurel area?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of the Laurel area. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.