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City · 17,679 residents · Jones County, Mississippi

Laurel , Mississippi

In Laurel, a typical home is worth $125,800 and typical rent is $909 a month. Compared with all of Jones County, the typical home value is 12% lower, typical household income is 9% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 12 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $125,800

    12% below the county

    26% below Mississippi

    • Laurel
    • Jones
    • Mississippi

  • Typical rent

    $909a month

    5% above the county

    5% below Mississippi

    • Laurel
    • Jones
    • Mississippi

  • Typical household income

    $47,661a year

    9% below the county

    16% below Mississippi

    • Laurel
    • Jones
    • Mississippi

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    12 points below the county

    7 points below Mississippi

    • Laurel
    • Jones
    • Mississippi

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$137,326
3.5% less than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Laurel is in Jones County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Jones County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Laurel apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Laurel fell 3.5%; in Mississippi, it rose 2.2%.

  2. 63% of households in Laurel own their home, against 75% in Jones County.

Sources: Zillow (September 2026 data); U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Laurel

What homes there are in Laurel, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Laurel, 8 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Jones County, 7.

Year built

Homes in Laurel are older: the typical year built is 1969; in Jones County, 1981.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

The FHA limit for Jones County is high ($541,287): at least 96% of owner-occupied homes in Laurel are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Jones County is $986; about 72% of rents in Laurel are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,286 a month

Jones County: $1,235 a month

Without a mortgage

$421 a month

Jones County: $378 a month

Owners with a mortgage

49%

Jones County: 38%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Laurel is $1,286 a month, near the figure in Jones County ($1,235).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in Laurel rose 47% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Jones County (45%).

The typical rent in Laurel rose 36% over the same time; in Jones County, it rose 26%.

To compare: typical income in Laurel rose 49%; the home, +47%; the rent, +36%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureLaurelJones CountyMississippiUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate8.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.5%2.2%3.4%
People per household 2.602.602.492.53
Drive alone 83%82%82%69%
Carpool 10%11%9%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate1%1%3%
Work from home 6%4%6%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

By size, households in Laurel look like those in Jones County: 2.60 people on average.

In Laurel, 83% of workers drive alone to work; in Jones County, 82%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Laurel?

A typical home is within reach of the typical income

We start with a typical home in Laurel, worth $125,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 26% of the typical household income in Laurel, which is $47,661 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Jones County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Laurel. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $4,403 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,051

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$123,521
Total interest
$177,718
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $2,124 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,112 a month

    Your payment · 26%

  • Tight

    $1,112 to $1,430 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,430 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Laurel ($47,661 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,051
Principal & interest$837
Property tax$106
Home insurance$52
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$56

You need at least $4,403 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Laurel and Jones County

Laurel is in Jones County, Mississippi. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Laurel's own numbers

Typical home value
$125,800
Typical monthly rent
$909
Typical yearly household income
$47,661
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
1.01%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Jones County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$986
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+44%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5.3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Jones County.

Everything about Jones County

Buying

Buying a home in Laurel

A typical home in Laurel is worth $125,800: 12% below the county and 26% below Mississippi. With the typical household income in Laurel ($47,661 a year), a typical home costs 2.6 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Laurel 2.6 years
  • Jones 2.7 years
  • Mississippi 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Jones County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Jones County rose 65% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Jones County.

Period County Mississippi U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.8% +3.5% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +44% +42% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +65% +62% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Laurel next to Jones County, Mississippi and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Laurel $125,800
  • Jones $143,100
  • Mississippi $169,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Laurel $909
  • Jones $869
  • Mississippi $954
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Laurel $47,661
  • Jones $52,216
  • Mississippi $56,447
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Laurel next to Jones County and Mississippi
Measure Laurel Jones County Mississippi U.S.
Typical home value $125,800 $143,100 $169,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $909 $869 $954 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,661 $52,216 $56,447 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 75% 70% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,268 $1,053 $1,215 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.01% 0.74% 0.72% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 57% 50% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Jones County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Laurel

For a typical $125,800 home in Laurel, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Laurel's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,051a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $4,403
    Cash to close
    $8,177
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $56

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,028a month

    Down payment
    $6,290
    Cash to close
    $10,064
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $60

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $840a month

    Down payment
    $25,160
    Cash to close
    $28,934
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $956a month

    Down payment
    $18,870
    Cash to close
    $22,644
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Laurel and for Jones County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Laurel

1.01%of the home’s value each year

$1,268 a year for the typical owner in Laurel.

  • Laurel 1.01%
  • Jones 0.74%
  • Mississippi 0.72%

What Mississippi publishes Regular homestead exemption (Tier 1) (Mississippi Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Mississippi

Flood risk in Jones County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Jones County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5.3%
1,304
Of those, with NFIP insurance
9.5%
County Mississippi U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5.3% 7.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 9.5% 33% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Laurel

Typical rent in Laurel is $909 a month: 5% above the county. In Laurel, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Jones County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($986 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.96 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Jones County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $749 $14.40 $29,960
1 bedroom $754 $14.50 $30,160
2 bedrooms $986 $18.96 $39,440
3 bedrooms $1,175 $22.60 $47,000
4 bedrooms $1,559 $29.98 $62,360

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Laurel

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Laurel is in ZIP code 39440.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,020: $34 more than the fair market rent for Jones County ($986).

  • 39440 $1,020$1,220

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Laurel when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Laurel

HUD lists 18 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Laurel. These are the largest.

  • Triangle Homes 321 S Maple St, Laurel 39440 124 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Laurel · Average payment: $362 a month · Average wait: 39 months (601) 425-4651
  • Arco/Windsor 410 E 5th St, Laurel 39440 114 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Laurel · Average payment: $337 a month · Average wait: 32 months · Homes at several sites (601) 425-4651
  • Brown Circle 19 Brown Cir, Laurel 39440 110 low-income homes · Run by The Housing Authority of the City of Laurel · Average payment: $374 a month · Average wait: 26 months (601) 425-4651
  • Cooks Avenue Apartments 415 Sorrell Dr, Laurel 39440 100 low-income homes · For older adults (601) 649-4204
  • Lone Oak II 101 Lone Oak Dr, Laurel 39443 100 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 44 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2017 · For families (601) 425-1116

See all 21 buildings in Jones County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Laurel

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Jones County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Laurel

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Laurel or Jones County. The ones below are statewide in Mississippi: they work in Laurel the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Mississippi

  • Smart7 Mortgage Program

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation 30-year mortgage with $7,000 for the down payment or closing costs as a 0% second mortgage, repaid when you sell, refinance, stop living in the home or pay off the mortgage; no first-time buyer requirement. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Easy8

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation 30-year mortgage with $8,000 at 0% as a second mortgage for the down payment, closing costs or prepaid expenses, repaid when you sell, refinance, stop living in the home or pay off the mortgage; for first-time buyers, except in designated areas and for veterans. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Home4All

    Statewide in Mississippi

    Mississippi state corporation forgivable grant, with federal HOME funds, of up to $25,000 for the down payment, closing costs or to reduce the principal; for first-time buyers with incomes under 80% of the area median and a fixed-rate mortgage; if you sell before 5 or 10 years (depending on the amount), you may repay part of it. Offered by Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).

    Grant

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Laurel

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Laurel, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Housing Economic Resources and Education

    602 Adeline St, Hattiesburg · 27 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (601) 658-8654

  • Breakthrough Community Services, Inc

    1313 Country Club Rd, Hattiesburg · 28 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (601) 582-3475

  • Mississippi Housing Partnership, Inc.

    1217 N West St, Jackson · 74 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 4 more
    (601) 969-1895

All counseling agencies in Mississippi

Help in Spanish near Laurel

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Laurel

HUD’s record names them for Laurel or Jones County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • The Housing Authority of the City of Laurel Public housing (601) 425-4651

All housing agencies in Mississippi Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Laurel, with the typical home value.

Everything about Jones County Housing in Mississippi

Neighboring counties

If Jones County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Laurel.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Laurel

Short answers with the numbers for Laurel and all of Jones County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Laurel?

The typical home value in Laurel is $125,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Jones County it is $143,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Laurel?

Typical rent in Laurel is $909 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Jones County is $986.

What is the FHA loan limit in Laurel?

Laurel uses the FHA limit for all of Jones County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Laurel?

The typical homeowner in Laurel pays $1,268 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.01% of the home’s value; in Jones County, the rate is 0.74%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Laurel?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Jones County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).