Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Bellingham
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,026 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
91,353
Laredo
Texas
13
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.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 100°F
Households earn $3,098 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $364k less ($164,400 vs $528,600)
Rent averages $417/mo less ($968 vs $1,385)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellingham
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Median income trails Bellingham by $3,098/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Median Income
$3,098
$64,026 vs $60,928/yr
Bellingham
Violent Crime
4% lower
350.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Bellingham
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 104.1 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$364k less
$164,400 vs $528,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
25.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 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. Bellingham 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 Bellingham to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($64,026 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Laredo, TX are about 1,909 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.