Laurens is a friendly, compact Iowa town of about 1,200 people with a walkable downtown, local restaurants, community events and an affordable, safe vibe—an easy base where a travel therapist can settle into steady shifts and genuine neighborhood connections during multi‑week stays.
When you want more to do, Spencer (home of the big Clay County Fair) and lakeside Storm Lake (Buena Vista University, fishing and dining) are an easy 30–45 minute drive—roughly 37 miles to Spencer and 32 miles to Storm Lake—so you get small‑town calm during the week with reliable weekend options nearby.