Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Boca Raton leads 12 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $34,642 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 68°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $433k less ($164,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1202/mo less ($968 vs $2,170)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $34,642/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$34,642
$95,570 vs $60,928/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
53% lower
171.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Laredo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$433k less
$164,400 vs $597,100
Laredo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 12 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 12 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 Boca Raton to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $164,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Laredo, TX are about 1,195 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.