Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bend, OR
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Bend
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,671 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
99,442
Laredo
Texas
10
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.
Bend, OR
Pros
54% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $21,743 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (168.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,900
Higher rents — median is $1,649/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($164,400 vs $576,900)
Rent averages $681/mo less ($968 vs $1,649)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Bend
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Bend by $21,743/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Bend
Median Income
$21,743
$82,671 vs $60,928/yr
Bend
Violent Crime
54% lower
168.5 vs 365.8 per 100k
Bend
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 105.8 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$413k less
$164,400 vs $576,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 83.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bend, OR | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.8⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,900⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,649⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,671 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 19.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.0:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bend-LaPine Administrative SD 1 | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.8°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.6" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,442 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.2% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.0% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bend's cost of living index is 105.8 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Bend wins 13 and Laredo wins 10. 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 Bend to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($82,671 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bend, OR and Laredo, TX are about 1,662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.