Laurel Home Prices: $485K, Up 0.3% — 5 ZIPs Analyzed (2026)
$484,974. That’s the typical home value in Laurel as of February 2026. Prices have nudged up 0.3% over the past year — barely a move, but a move in the right direction for sellers.
Quick answer: The average home price in Laurel, MD is $484,974 as of February 2026, up 0.3% year over year according to Zillow.
Current Home Prices in Laurel
Laurel sits in the middle of the DC-area pricing spread. The city’s typical home value is $484,974, with individual ZIPs ranging from $411,135 to $581,609 — a spread of about $170,000 between the cheapest and priciest neighborhoods.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median home value | $484,974 |
| Year-over-year change | +0.3% |
| Lowest ZIP value | $411,135 |
| Highest ZIP value | $581,609 |
| ZIPs analyzed | 5 |
| Metro area | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria |
The 0.3% annual gain works out to roughly $1,500 in added value for a typical home. That’s not appreciation that beats inflation. It’s not a decline either.
What it tells you: Laurel’s market is in a holding pattern. Buyers aren’t getting pushed out by runaway prices. Sellers aren’t watching equity vanish. If you bought a year ago, your home is worth almost exactly what it was worth then.
The city’s price point — just under $485K — puts it well below pricier DC suburbs like Bethesda or Silver Spring, while still sitting above Baltimore’s typical home value. That positioning matters for buyers priced out of inner-Beltway markets but unwilling to drop into Baltimore proper.
Laurel Home Prices by Neighborhood
The five ZIP codes covering Laurel show a real spread. The most expensive ZIP costs 41% more than the cheapest.
| ZIP Code | Typical Home Value | vs. City Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 20723 | $581,609 | +20% |
| 20763 | $484,404 | -0.1% |
| 20708 | $482,045 | -0.6% |
| 20724 | $465,679 | -4% |
| 20707 | $411,135 | -15% |
Most Expensive
- 20723 — $581,609. This is the only ZIP that breaks above the $500K mark. It runs about $97,000 above the city average and pulls the broader Laurel median upward.
- 20763 — $484,404. Sits almost exactly at the city average. Rent data isn’t available here, so it’s harder to compare landlord economics.
- 20708 — $482,045. Close to the citywide median with the lowest rent in the city at $1,630, suggesting a softer rental market than the price tag implies.
Most Affordable
- 20707 — $411,135. The cheapest ZIP by a wide margin, $74,000 below the average. Rents here run $2,015, putting rent-to-price ratios in landlord-friendly territory.
- 20724 — $465,679. The second-most-affordable ZIP, but with the highest rent in Laurel at $2,456. That mismatch — moderate prices and strong rents — is unusual.
- 20708 — $482,045. Third on the affordability list and notable for the city’s lowest rent figure.
Rent vs Buy in Laurel
Rent data covers four of the five Laurel ZIPs. The numbers run from $1,630 in 20708 to $2,456 in 20724. The rough average across reporting ZIPs is about $2,020 per month.
Now the buy side. On a $484,974 home with 20% down ($96,995), you’re financing $387,979. At a 7% rate over 30 years, the principal-and-interest payment is about $2,580. Add property taxes ($405 monthly at Maryland’s typical rate) and homeowners insurance ($125), and your monthly housing cost lands near $3,110.
| Scenario | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Average Laurel rent | ~$2,020 |
| Buy with 20% down (P&I + taxes + insurance) | ~$3,110 |
| Difference | $1,090/month |
Renting beats buying by more than $1,000 per month at current prices and rates. That gap doesn’t account for equity buildup, mortgage interest deduction, or appreciation — but with prices essentially flat year over year, the appreciation argument is weak right now.
The math flips toward buying if rates drop into the low 6s, or if you plan to stay 7+ years. Under five years, the transaction costs alone often eat the gains.
Population Growth and Migration
Laurel had 30,238 residents in 2024, up from 29,983 in 2020. That’s 0.9% growth over four years — slow, but positive.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 29,983 |
| 2021 | 29,559 |
| 2022 | 29,560 |
| 2023 | 29,685 |
| 2024 | 30,238 |
The trend is interesting. The city actually lost residents between 2020 and 2021, then plateaued for two years before adding 553 people in 2024 alone. That recent acceleration accounts for most of the four-year gain.
Compare Laurel against other Maryland cities:
| City | 2024 Population | 4-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick | 89,537 | +14.2% |
| Gaithersburg | 70,686 | +1.7% |
| Rockville | 68,417 | +1.6% |
| Laurel | 30,238 | +0.9% |
| Bowie | 58,421 | +0.3% |
| Baltimore | 568,271 | -2.6% |
Frederick is the standout, growing nearly 16x faster than Laurel. Baltimore is shedding residents. Laurel sits in the slow-growth middle — gaining people, but not enough to put real pressure on housing supply. That’s part of why prices are flat: demand isn’t outrunning the housing stock.
Laurel Housing Market Trends
Twelve months of monthly data show how flat this market has been.
| Month | Avg Value | Min ZIP | Max ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | $484,974 | $411,135 | $581,609 |
| Jan 2026 | $484,672 | $411,691 | $581,726 |
| Dec 2025 | $484,432 | $412,353 | $582,076 |
| Nov 2025 | $483,899 | $413,003 | $581,650 |
| Oct 2025 | $483,630 | $413,699 | $581,211 |
| Sep 2025 | $483,840 | $414,574 | $581,339 |
| Aug 2025 | $484,081 | $415,036 | $581,876 |
| Jul 2025 | $484,546 | $415,355 | $582,834 |
| Jun 2025 | $484,510 | $415,338 | $583,241 |
| May 2025 | $484,359 | $414,897 | $583,054 |
| Apr 2025 | $483,924 | $414,128 | $582,400 |
| Mar 2025 | $483,500 | $413,534 | $581,405 |
The total swing from low to high across all 12 months is about $1,500. That’s a fraction of a percent. Prices peaked in mid-2025, dipped slightly into the fall, and have ticked back up over the last three months.
The minimum ZIP value (20707) actually fell over the 12 months, from $413,534 in March 2025 to $411,135 in February 2026 — a drop of about $2,400. The high end edged down slightly too. The middle of the market is what’s holding the average steady.
Is Laurel a Good Place to Buy in 2026?
Mixed signals. Here’s what the data points to.
For buying: Prices are stable. You’re not catching a falling knife. The cheapest ZIP (20707) is well below $420K, which keeps Laurel reachable for buyers priced out of pricier DC suburbs. Rents in 20724 ($2,456) are high enough to make landlord math interesting if you can find a property near the cheaper ZIP averages.
Against buying: The rent-vs-buy spread is wide. You’d save roughly $1,000 a month renting at current prices and rates. Population growth is slow at 0.9% over four years, so demand-driven appreciation isn’t likely. Year-over-year price growth at 0.3% means the equity story is weak.
The verdict: Laurel is a reasonable buy if you’re staying 7+ years, plan to use the home (not flip it), and prefer a 20708 or 20707 entry point. It’s a bad buy if you’re banking on quick appreciation or planning to leave inside five years.
Laurel Housing Market Outlook for 2026-2027
The 3-month trend points slightly upward. Values rose from $484,432 in December to $484,974 in February — a gain of $542 over three months. If the current pace continues, you’d see annualized growth around 0.4 to 0.5%.
The 12-month picture supports the same read. The market has been remarkably stable, never moving more than $700 in either direction within a single month. There’s no sign of a price spike. There’s also no sign of a correction.
Watch the high-end ZIP (20723). It topped out at $583,241 in June 2025 and has since drifted to $581,609 — a small but real cooling at the top. If that softening spreads to mid-market ZIPs, the citywide average could flatten further or tip slightly negative through summer.
For the next 3 to 6 months, the most likely scenario is more of the same: low-single-digit movement, no breakout, no crash.
Similar Markets in MD
If Laurel’s price point doesn’t fit, here are nearby Maryland markets worth checking:
- Columbia sits in the same metro corridor and is often a step up in price.
- Bowie buyers compare Laurel often, since both are mid-sized DC-area cities.
- Silver Spring is closer to DC and typically more expensive.
- Baltimore offers a much lower price floor for buyers willing to leave the DC metro.
- Annapolis costs more but adds waterfront access and a different commute pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Laurel?
The average home price in Laurel, MD is $484,974 as of February 2026. That figure reflects the typical home value across the five ZIP codes covering the city. The range runs from $411,135 in 20707 to $581,609 in 20723.
Are home prices going up or down in Laurel?
Prices are up 0.3% year over year. The change is so small the market is essentially flat — values moved less than $1,500 between March 2025 and February 2026. The 3-month trend shows a slight upward drift.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Laurel?
Renting is cheaper by roughly $1,000 per month. Average rent across Laurel ZIPs is about $2,020, while a typical mortgage with 20% down at current rates lands near $3,110 with taxes and insurance. The math improves for buyers staying 7+ years.
What is the most affordable neighborhood in Laurel?
ZIP code 20707 is the most affordable, with a typical home value of $411,135. It runs about $74,000 below the city average and 29% below the priciest Laurel ZIP. Rents there sit near $2,015 per month.
Methodology
Home values are based on the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), a smoothed measure of typical home values in the 35th to 65th percentile range. Rent estimates use the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Population figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (2020-2024 vintage). All datasets are publicly available. Housing data updated 2026-02-28.