Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Laredo
Texas
13
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,117 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $452k less ($164,400 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $847/mo less ($968 vs $1,815)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
13% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $42,117/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$42,117
$103,045 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
13% lower
365.8 vs 420.0 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$452k less
$164,400 vs $616,000
Laredo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
23.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson 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 Carson to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($103,045 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.