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Laurel, Mississippi

city · Jones County

At a glance

17,679
Population
$125,800
Median home value (all homes)
59% below U.S. median
$146,629
Typical market value
Zillow, 2026-07
$909/mo
Median rent
33% below U.S. median
$47,661
Median household income
39% below U.S. median
16.4 min
Average commute
78.7%
Homes with broadband
26.42%
Locations with fiber available
5.6%
Unemployment

Cost of living (Clay Affordability Index)

CAI 84 — 16% below the national average. how it's computed

Housing41% below
Goods & services4% below
Utilities9% above
Taxes24% below
Insurance2% above
Commute cost46% below
For business: Mississippi is CBII band 2/5 · time to build band 1/5. See state page for the breakdown.

Living here

Nearest 4-year college4 mi
Nearest community college8 mi
Nearest technical college0 mi
High school graduates87.1%
College graduates21.8%

Doing business here

Economic development contacts, most local first:

city Laurel Economic Development
Jones County Economic Development Authority provides economic development leadership for Jones County, Mississippi, with staff including a President & CEO, Vice President, Finance Director, Information Manager, Career Coaches, and Workforce and Tourism consultants.
county Jones County Development Authority
Jones County Economic Development Authority provides career coaching programs and hosts events such as FAFSA application assistance to support students, families, and the local workforce in Jones County, Mississippi.
region Southern Mississippi Planning & Dev. Dis
SMPDD is a regional planning and development district serving 15 counties and 38 municipalities in South Mississippi, connecting individuals, businesses, and industries to agencies that provide help and funding for seniors and disabled, job seekers resources, business loan programs, economic development and community development tools, and technical assistance and planning.
state Electric Power Associations of Mississippi
Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi is the unified voice of Mississippi Electric Cooperatives. The page lists 841878 members, 26 electric cooperatives, 98272 miles of energized line, and 3395 employees.
state Entergy Mississippi Economic Development
Mississippi Economic Development is the Entergy Mississippi division providing business and economic development contacts for Mississippi; the page lists regional staff and contact details.
state Mississippi Economic Dev Council
Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) serves as the voice for economic development and chamber stakeholders and professionals across Mississippi.
state Tennessee Valley Authority Sites & Buildings
TVA Economic Development offers programs and services designed to spark job creation, encourage investment, and boost wages in TVA's seven-state region, with site selection services and incentives for businesses.
state Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Economic Development
A Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway organization providing economic development information, including a Membership Directory and lists of TTW Authority Members and TTW Council Board members.
State sales taxYes
State income taxYes
Right-to-work stateYes

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