Small-town living with big-city amenities between Baltimore and D.C.
Approximately equidistant from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Laurel is a convenient option for those looking to access both. Officially incorporated in 1870 but with settlements dating back to the 18th century, the city has a historic charm reflected in its housing options and Main Street shopping and dining area. “One of my favorite things about Laurel is the old part of town,” says Realtor Brian Pakulla, who’s been selling in Central Maryland since 1972. “There’s a small Main Street with a post office and a lot of nice older homes in that area.” With a population of about 30,000, Laurel is small enough for residents to know their neighbors but big enough that they have plenty to do. With various restaurants and retail chains, Laurel combines the amenities of big-city living with the charm of a historic small town.
Looking for traditional African clothing, the Heavenly boutique is you one stop boutique.
Laurel neighborhood has lots of fun to offer.
Family fun meets automotive thrill at the Laurel 4th Car & Truck Show.
Laurel is an up and coming PG County city.
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Getting to Baltimore and D.C.
From 2010 to 2020, Laurel’s population grew by almost 5,000 people, but since 2020, it has dropped from 30,000 to around 29,000. “It’s not a big business area, more residential with shopping centers, and access to I-495, Washington Parkway and the toll road to go back to Montgomery County,” says Chelene Webster, A Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. “It’s more of a living space than a business space.” Most folks who live in Laurel commute to work by car, as the city is equidistant from D.C. and Baltimore; drives to each are a little over 20 miles. Laurel sits along major highways that connect residents to Baltimore and D.C., like Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. Laurel has an emergency room in town at the UM Laurel Medical Center, and the closest airport is the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, 14 miles northeast. The Maryland Transit Administration serves Laurel with a bus that allows residents to get around town and connects them to Baltimore. Laurel also has a train station for folks taking MARC trains from D.C. to Baltimore.
The MARC Train station in Laurel makes it easy to get to DC and Baltimore.
Public Transportation
Laurel Center
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Main Street’s local cafes and Baltimore Avenue’s retail chains
Chido’s Tex-Mex Grill is a popular restaurant in Laurel, followed by GrandE Buffet & Grill, which serves American, Mexican and Pan-Asian food buffet-style, and Mad Cow Grill, an elevated burger joint. Laurel’s Main Street has local cafes like Ragamuffins Coffee House and More Than Java Café, along with boutiques like The Crystal Fox and Outback Leather. “Laurel Towne Center is new in town. It replaced Laurel Mall in the early 2000s; it’s got a movie theater and shops around it, right off of Route 1,” says Webster. Restaurants and retail chains line Baltimore Avenue, giving residents access to groceries at Giant Food and Harris Teeter, clothes at Marshalls and Old Navy and entertainment at Regal Laurel Towne Center. On the east side of Laurel, the Dutch Country Farmer’s Market, open Thursday through Sunday every week, is a popular place to pick up food. It offers a wide selection of locally sourced baked goods, dairy, organic meats and candies from farmers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
Laurel's Double T Diner is an authentic diner in downtown.
Amazing coffee, and amazing times at Ragamuffins Coffee House in Laurel.
Laurel's The Crystal Fox is a metaphysical supply store with everything you could need.
Local N'Style Hair Grooming is a true full service barbershop in Laurel.
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Holiday events on Main Street
Laurel’s biggest event is the annual Main Street Festival, where thousands of visitors enjoy a parade down Main Street accompanied by an array of local food and live entertainment. Laurel also has an annual Halloween celebration called Trick or Treat on Main Street, where the road is blocked off and families can trick or treat at the shops on Main Street.
Colonial-inspired single-family homes and condos
“[Laurel has] a mix of everything, with new townhouses and condos being built lately, while there’s still a lot of pockets of single-family homes,” says Webster. “A lot of the city is in Prince George’s County, so the pricing is competitive.” Laurel has various housing options ranging from single-family homes to townhouses and condos. There’s a mix of historic housing and new constructions: Older options are typically in architectural styles like farmhouses, Colonial Revivals and bi-level homes built after World War II, while new millennium-built homes often come in Contemporary and New Traditional styles. Brick and vinyl are the most common sidings, and houses frequently sit back on tree-lined subdivisions with spacious lawns. Prices start around $180,000 for one-bedroom condos, reach as high as $800,000 for four-bedroom new builds and settle at a median of about $400,000. For most three- to four-bedroom condos or single-family homes, buyers should expect to spend between $400,000 to $600,000. The average sale price for homes in Laurel is around $484,000.
You can find many different styles of homes in the West Laurel neighborhood.
Beautiful home in Laurel with great grass.
The West Laurel neighborhood is a growing community with new and beautiful homes.
Take a walking tour through the Historic District and Main street Laurel.
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Prince George’s County Public Schools
Laurel is zoned for Prince George’s County Public Schools, the nation’s No. 20 largest school district, which serves over 130,000 students. Niche also ranks it as the sixth best school district for athletes in Maryland. There are also private options like the Catholic Saint Vincent Pallotti High School. There are higher education options at the Laurel College Center, with degree programs from partner institutions like Morgan State University, Bowie State University’s undergraduate general business administration program, and associate degree programs for Prince George’s Community College.
Entrance to Laurel High School.
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Welcome to Scotchtown Hills Elementary School in Laurel.
Entrance to Bond Mill Elementary School where West Laurel students' K-12 journey begins.
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Bring dogs or kayaks to the local parks in Laurel
Laurel residents spend time at spots like Roland B. Sweitzer Community Park and Discovery Community Park, which have playgrounds for children, while Leo E. Wilson Community Park features a dog park. In the summertime, residents rent paddleboats on Laurel Lake at Granville Gude Park. Supplee Lane Recreation Area is less than a mile to the northwest and offers forested trails and picnic tables along the banks of the Patuxent River. It’s also a popular boat launch for folks who want to kayak out on the water. The large Laurel Park Racetrack is a popular place to watch horseraces and is home to the Maryland Jockey Club.
Take a ride along Laurel Lake in Granville Gude Park.
Roland B. Sweitzer Community Park playground
Bring your best friends out for a playdate at the Leo Wilson Dog Park in Laurel.
Fairland Recreation Park is popular among hikers and cyclists due to its miles of trails.
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Things to know about Laurel
Laurel has a population of around 29,000 people, and according to NeighborhoodScout, the violent crime rate is about 3.71 incidents per 1,000 residents, lower than the Maryland rate of 3.98 incidents per 1,000 residents. Laurel’s property crime rate is around 25.79 incidents per 1,000 residents, higher than the Maryland rate of 16.35 incidents per 1,000 residents and the national median rate of 20 incidents per 1,000 residents. Violent crime has been slowly trending downward in Laurel since 2018, yet property crime has remained consistent during the same period. The weather in Laurel is temperate, with four distinct seasons, humid summers and around 45 inches of rainfall a year, more than the national average of around 35 inches per year.
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