1st Advantage MortgageAbout 81% of Lawrence County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $66,468. Use those as context only. A lender looks at your own documented income and debts; compare APR and total repaid on every Lawrence County offer.
On this page
- Population and place: Lawrence County
- Earnings across Lawrence County households
- Renting and owning in Lawrence County
- Lawrence County industries and commutes
- How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Lawrence County
- A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
- People and households in Lawrence County
- Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
- Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
- Indiana rules that apply in Lawrence County
- Other Indiana guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Lawrence County
Lawrence County is home to about 45,102 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 34th most populous of 92 county-level areas in Indiana. It covers 449 square miles of land, or about 100 people per square mile. Lawrence County is classed as nonmetropolitan in the OMB's July 2023 list. Of the 5 Census places inside Lawrence County, Bedford leads by population with about 13,837; 3 of the 5 are incorporated.
Earnings across Lawrence County households
The median household income in Lawrence County is $66,468; statewide it is $71,957, so Lawrence County runs 8% below Indiana as a whole. Only 53 Indiana counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Lawrence County | +/- vs Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.4% | +3.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.8% | -0.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.2% | +0.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -3.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 31% of Lawrence County households make $100,000 or more, and 26% make less than $35,000. Census counts 12.2% of Lawrence County residents in poverty, against 12.3% across Indiana. Gini index for Lawrence County: 0.426. None of these numbers decides a Lawrence County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Renting and owning in Lawrence County
Renters in Lawrence County pay a median of $845 a month, 20% below the Indiana figure of $1,062. About 5 in 10 Lawrence County renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $175,000, or 2.6 years of median income. In Lawrence County, 81% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1973.
| Measure | Lawrence County | Indiana | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owners | 81% | 71% | +10.1 pts |
| Mobile homes | 8.3% | 4.4% | +4.0 pts |
| Median gross rent | $845/mo | $1,062/mo | 20% lower |
| Median home value | $175,000 | $218,200 | 20% lower |
| Vacant units | 7% | 9% | -1.9 pts |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 48% | -0.7 pts |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 20% | -0.6 pts |
At a $175,000 median value, many Lawrence County owners hold equity. Using it lowers cost only if you can carry the risk (equity vs. unsecured).
Lawrence County industries and commutes
Education and health care (21%), manufacturing (18%) and retail trade (10%) lead Lawrence County's job mix. The sharpest difference from the state is in public administration, at 6% locally and 4% for Indiana. Unemployment in Lawrence County, ACS five-year: 3.5%; Indiana: 4.3%. 17% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. Only 4.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Lawrence County | Compared with Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.4% | -2.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 18.5% | +0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -0.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.6% | -1.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Lawrence County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Lawrence County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 28 miles). Income ranges from $64,641 in Washington County to $78,528 in Brown County; 3 of these neighbors top Lawrence County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence County | - | $66,468 | $845/mo | 81% |
| Martin County, IN | 19 mi | $68,594 | $697/mo | 79% |
| Orange County, IN | 20 mi | $65,873 | $855/mo | 79% |
| Monroe County, IN | 22 mi | $65,868 | $1,193/mo | 54% |
| Jackson County, IN | 24 mi | $70,262 | $1,004/mo | 73% |
| Washington County, IN | 26 mi | $64,641 | $780/mo | 82% |
| Brown County, IN | 28 mi | $78,528 | $895/mo | 87% |
The communities that make up Lawrence County
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 44% of Lawrence County residents live in one of the 5. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $48,930 in Mitchell to $59,018 in Oolitic. From Bedford to the smallest crossroads, Lawrence County residents share this guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford | city | 13,837 | $49,553 | $828 | 1 mi |
| Mitchell | city | 3,937 | $48,930 | $849 | 7 mi |
| Oolitic | town | 1,522 | $59,018 | $814 | 4 mi |
| Avoca | CDP | 439 | $73,654 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Williams | CDP | 200 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
A Lawrence County household budget, worked through
Lawrence County's $66,468 median income, run through a debt-to-income check:
- $5,539 a month: gross income for a household at the Lawrence County median
- Rent at the median, $845, takes 15% of that
- $1,371: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
People and households in Lawrence County
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. Uninsured, Lawrence County: 6.1%; Indiana: 7.4%.
| Residents | Lawrence County | Difference from Indiana | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.3 | +5.2 yrs | +1.8 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.4% | -9.1 pts | -1.7 pts |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | +0.4 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.1% | -1.3 pts | -1.7 pts |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | -1.4 pts | -0.6 pts |
| Work from home | 7.0% | -3.7 pts | -1.7 pts |
| Poverty rate | 12.2% | -0.1 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | -0.8 pts | -0.9 pts |
| Minutes to work | Lawrence County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.9% |
| 60+ min | 8.9% |
Local borrowing considerations for Lawrence County
Lawrence County-specific points to check:
- 47% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Lawrence County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Four steps for Lawrence County borrowers
Steps that save money for Lawrence County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Lawrence County-area credit union.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Indiana rules that apply in Lawrence County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Lawrence County borrowers answers to the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. State-level detail for Lawrence County borrowers is in the Indiana guide.
Other Indiana guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lawrence County household make?
About $66,468 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 8% below the Indiana median.
How does Lawrence County rent compare with Indiana?
$845 locally versus $1,062 for the state, 20% below.
Can Lawrence County owners borrow against a $175,000 home?
Many can, through a home equity loan or line. It is secured by the house, so compare it with an unsecured personal loan before choosing.
I live near Bedford. Which guide is mine?
This one. Bedford and the rest of Lawrence County have no separate city guide.
Are Lawrence County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.