Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chico, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 22 categories
Chico
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
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.
Chico, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,004 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($164,400 vs $427,600)
48% less violent crime than Chico
Rent averages $392/mo less ($968 vs $1,360)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Chico
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Median income trails Chico by $5,004/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chico
Median Income
$5,004
$65,932 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
48% lower
365.8 vs 699.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$263k less
$164,400 vs $427,600
Laredo
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.9% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 95.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chico, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.6⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $427,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,360⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $65,932 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.3% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.1°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.2°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 102,790 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.1% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chico's cost of living index is 104.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 22 categories. Chico wins 9 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 Chico to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($427,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($65,932 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chico, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,529 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.