Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 18 of 23 categories
Compton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Laredo
Texas
18
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.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $8,800 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $325k less ($164,400 vs $489,400)
71% less violent crime than Compton
Rent averages $496/mo less ($968 vs $1,464)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $8,800/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$8,800
$69,728 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
71% lower
365.8 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$325k less
$164,400 vs $489,400
Laredo
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 4.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 21.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 69.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.4% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton'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 18 of 23 categories. Compton wins 5 and Laredo wins 18. 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 Compton to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,194 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.