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Buying a home in Lawrence, Michigan

The typical owner-occupied home in Lawrence is worth about $133,900, 42% below the Michigan median of $231,600 and 60% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,836 a year in property taxes, about 1.37% of their home's value, higher than the Michigan rate of 1.25%. The median household earns $36,058 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (3.2 times for Michigan). 51% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 57% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lawrence at a glance

Lawrence Michigan U.S.
Median home value $133,900 $231,600 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,836 $2,904 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.37% 1.25% 0.94%
Median household income $36,058 $72,875 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 51% 73% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 57% 58% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,079 $1,569 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 16.1% 19.3% 21.0%
Median rent $587 $1,129 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.8% 30.2% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1976 1972 1980
Vacant homes 7.7% 11.8% 10.1%
Population 942 10,077,761 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lawrence

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lawrence home of $133,900 with 20% down costs about $929 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,152, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $39,825 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Lawrence household income of $36,058; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $121,000.

The median rent here is $587 a month, so owning the median home costs about $342 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$26,780
Loan amount$107,120
Principal and interest$721
Property taxes (1.37% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
PMI$0
Total per month$929

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,686
Loan amount$131,475
Principal and interest$884
Property taxes (1.37% a year)$153
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$56
FHA mortgage insurance$59
Total per month$1,152

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Questions about home buying in Lawrence

What is the median home value in Lawrence?

About $133,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lawrence?

Homeowners pay a median $1,836 a year, which is about 1.37% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Lawrence?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $929 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $39,825 a year.

More about Lawrence

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data