Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $34,803 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($164,400 vs $363,800)
64% less violent crime than Anchorage
Rent averages $437/mo less ($968 vs $1,405)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 21°F
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $34,803/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$34,803
$95,731 vs $60,928/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
64% lower
365.8 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$199k less
$164,400 vs $363,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
32.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 34.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Anchorage 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 Anchorage to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($95,731 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Laredo, TX are about 3,251 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.