Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
117,962
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $60,611 more per year on average
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $833k less ($164,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1660/mo less ($968 vs $2,628)
16% less violent crime than Cambridge
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $60,611/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$60,611
$121,539 vs $60,928/yr
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
16% lower
365.8 vs 436.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$833k less
$164,400 vs $997,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
15.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 9 and Laredo wins 14. 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 Cambridge to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Laredo, TX are about 1,891 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.