Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Centennial leads 12 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Laredo
Texas
11
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $63,689 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Laredo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $422k less ($164,400 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $981/mo less ($968 vs $1,949)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Centennial
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $63,689/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Median Income
$63,689
$124,617 vs $60,928/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
53% lower
172.8 vs 365.8 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$422k less
$164,400 vs $586,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
13.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 12 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 12 and Laredo wins 11. 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 Centennial to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Laredo, TX are about 887 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.