Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High
Population
958,202 ✓ 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.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $25,628 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($164,400 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $581/mo less ($968 vs $1,549)
22% less violent crime than Austin
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 63°F
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $25,628/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$25,628
$86,556 vs $60,928/yr
Austin
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
22% lower
365.8 vs 466.9 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$297k less
$164,400 vs $461,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Austin 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 Austin to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($86,556 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Laredo, TX are about 216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.