Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories
Boise City
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192
Laredo
Texas
8
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.
Boise City, ID
Pros
20% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $15,474 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($164,400 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($968 vs $1,223)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Boise City
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $15,474/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.8%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Boise City
Median Income
$15,474
$76,402 vs $60,928/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
20% lower
293.8 vs 365.8 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$237k less
$164,400 vs $401,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boise City leads 15 of 23 categories. Boise City wins 15 and Laredo wins 8. 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 Boise City to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($76,402 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Laredo, TX are about 1,448 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.