Signals
Hopewell
Laurel
Opportunity
22 · Bottom 2%
vs50 · Bottom 37%
Climate
75 · Top 28%
vs75 · Top 28%
Physical resilience
65 · Top 43%
vs85 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
82 · Top 48%
vs71 · Bottom 36%
Schools
18 · Bottom 9%
vs21 · Bottom 12%
Access
91 · Bottom 49%
vs94 · Top 40%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 17%
vs71 · Top 27%
Measured values
| Metric | Hopewell | Laurel | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,959 | 18,721 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $54,729 | $73,609 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $28,711 | $38,535 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,217/sq mi | 3,475/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $181,600 | $283,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,106 | $1,616 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 57.9% | 51.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 5.1% | 3.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -2.2% | -2.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.7% | 29.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 21.8% | 8.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 90°F | 89°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 29°F | 28°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 45.5" | 45.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.4 min | 24.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.5 | 35.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 11 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 13.90 | 16.64 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 20.4% | 36.2% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.3% | 51.1% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hopewell
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, drought.
Laurel
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Hopewell, VA · Laurel, VA · How this is calculated: methodology