Introduction
Established in the 1870s, Laurel remains one of the best cities to live and do business in the United States. It’s conveniently located at the center of three key U.S. cities of Baltimore, Annapolis, and Washington DC. (Robert J. Brugger, 1996)The city boasts diverse communities, excellent housing, and outstanding private and public school. Both residents and visitors benefit from a low crime rate and limitless recreational facilities. The cost of living in Laurel is relatively low compared to other cities close to Washington DC.
Demographics
The population of Laurel is currently estimated at 19,000 people, with a population density of 5,360 people per square mile. The population is racially integrated with 51 percent white, 35 percent African Americans, 6.5 percent Asians, 6 percent Hispanic, with the rest of the population comprising of Native Americans, pacific islanders, and other races. There are approximately 9,100 households, of which 19 percent are married couples. The city population is spread out with those under the age of 24 yrs taking 39 percent, 45 percent of the population are between the age of 25 to 44 years, 19 percent are between 45 to 64 years old, while the rest of the population are over 64 years. (Moe, 2008)
Career Opportunities in Laurel
The city of laurel is mid-way between Baltimore and Washington, DC making it a spot with a lot of career opportunities. The unemployment rate of the city is one of the lowest in the nation, at below 4 percent. The most common occupations in laurel city are professional and management at 42%, sales and office occupation at 28%, and service industry at 11%. 71 percent of workers in laurel work for private companies, 22 percent work for government agencies, and 4 percent are self-employed. (Career Guide, 2008)
Education, Social Services, and Health are the leading industries in laurel at 17 percent. Administrative, scientific, management, professional, and waste management services at 13 percent and retail trade at 12 percent. Hospitals, Home Health Care, Navigation Instrument Manufacture, and Aircraft Management are some of the industries that hire most workers in Laurel. (Career Guide, 2008)
Housing Market
Laurel’s real Estate market is quite diverse, with condominium and townhouse properties. The price range of the property depends on the specific area, convenience to shopping, recreation, and transportation facilities. The quality and access to education also play an important role in property pricing. Currently, a three-bedroom house with a two-bath range from $200,000 to $250,000, while four-bedroom houses with three baths are priced slightly under $300,000. Five-bedroom houses are sitting on a larger property range from $400,000 to $700,000. A standard three-bedroom condominium or townhouse with one bath range from $150,000 to $170,000. For those who wish to build custom houses, there are pieces of land priced at $350,000 for a 2 acre to $ 600,000 for a 9-acre land.
Cost of Living
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the State of Maryland has the second-highest median household income at $53,530, which is 25 percent above the national average. The average median income for males in Laurel city is $38,750, while that of females is 36,651. Only 4.3 percent of families in Laurel live below the poverty line. The cost of housing is relatively low compared to other areas close to Washington DC. Although the cost of electricity has been rising, residents of Laurel enjoy a relatively low cost of living.
Education Opportunities
There are vast Education opportunities in Laurel. The education system is based and controlled differently in each county. Some of the public school found within the city limits includes Laurel Elementary School, Prince George County School, Scotchtown Hills elementary school, Martin Luther King Jr. middle school, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Laurel High School. In Prince Georges County, there are a number of public schools, which include Montpelier, Deerfield, Bond mill, Oaklands, and James Harrison elementary school. In Howard County, there is Hammond, forest ridge, laurel woods, and Gorman elementary school. Maryland City and Brock Bridge elementary schools serve Anne Arundel County. Residents of Laurel have access to schools in adjacent counties, which include Murray Hill Middles School, Reservoir High school, Eleanor Roosevelt High school, and magnet School. (Moe, 2008)
There are a number of private schools in Laurel city, which includes Julia Brown Montessori School, Laurel Baptist academy, Kiddies academy of laurel, and St. Vincent Pallotti High school, among others.
Some of the notable colleges in Laurel include Howard community college and Prince George’s community college, both of which share a campus at Laurel college center. Another notable college is Capitol College, located to the south of Laurel.
Recreational Facilities
Due to its location on the banks of the Patuxent River, Laurel city offers residents and visitors many recreational opportunities like hiking and river fishing. The department of Parks and recreation is responsible for operating and maintaining programs for recreation, ensuring that city residents have access to a variety of leisure facilities and services which enrich and enhance the quality of life. Garden Ice House skating facility is one of the notable recreational spots offering rinks for ice skating, hockey, and speed skating. Opened in 1911, Laurel Park Racecourse remains one of the greatest attractions in Laurel city. Residents of Laurel also benefit from Patuxent Wildlife Research center, famously re-known world over, for its attempt to conserve endangered bird species. (Robert J. Brugger, 1996)
Conclusion
Laurel city, Maryland is one of the best cities to live in the United States due to the endless opportunities found in the three counties that make up Laurel. Residents have access to quality education offered by numerous public and private school. The real estate market is quite diverse offering a wide variety of housing for residents to choose from. It is for these reasons that make Laurel my number one choice for places I would like to live once I graduate.
Works Cited
Career Guide. (2008). Laurel Jobs. Web.
Moe, C. A. (2008). City of Laurel, Maryland. Web.
Robert J. Brugger, G. H. (1996). Maryland a Middle Temperament. JHU Press: New York.