Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
13
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $10,808 more per year on average
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $87k less ($164,400 vs $251,300)
24% less violent crime than Arlington
Rent averages $329/mo less ($968 vs $1,297)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $10,808/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$10,808
$71,736 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
24% lower
365.8 vs 482.9 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$87k less
$164,400 vs $251,300
Laredo
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 10 and Laredo wins 13. 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 Arlington to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($71,736 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Laredo, TX are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.