Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $52,251 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $491k less ($164,400 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1015/mo less ($968 vs $1,983)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $52,251/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$52,251
$113,179 vs $60,928/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
40% lower
219.1 vs 365.8 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$491k less
$164,400 vs $655,700
Laredo
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Laredo wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Laredo, TX are about 1,505 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.