Fort Meade, MD vs Laurel, MD

Laurel is moderately more affordable than Fort Meade, with a 6.3% lower cost of living index. Fort Meade scores 133 compared to 125 for Laurel, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Fort Meade can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

Renters will find that Fort Meade has a median rent of $2,380/month while Laurel comes in at $1,878/month, a 27% difference.

Median household income in Fort Meade is $102,886 compared to $94,063 in Laurel (+9.4%). While Fort Meade is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fort Meade spend roughly 27.8% of their income on rent, more than the 24% in Laurel.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (56.2°F vs 56.2°F). Laurel receives more rainfall at 45" per year compared to 45" in Fort Meade.