Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbus, OH
Pros
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
16% less violent crime than Columbus
Homes cost $48k less ($164,400 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $193/mo less ($968 vs $1,161)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Columbus
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$2,066
$62,994 vs $60,928/yr
Columbus
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
16% lower
365.8 vs 434.9 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$48k less
$164,400 vs $212,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
15.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 85.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ 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 | 114⚠ 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 | B (97) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 32.7 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($62,994 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Laredo, TX are about 1,275 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.