Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.1%)
More college-educated — 34.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Laredo by $3,225/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
56% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Homes cost $66k less ($164,400 vs $230,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 51°F
Rent averages $98/mo less ($968 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Households earn $3,225 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$3,225
$60,928 vs $57,703/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
56% lower
365.8 vs 823.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$66k less
$164,400 vs $230,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 8 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 Chattanooga to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($57,703 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Laredo, TX are about 986 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.