Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ 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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,057 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($164,400 vs $270,700)
44% less violent crime than Dallas
Rent averages $337/mo less ($968 vs $1,305)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Median income trails Dallas by $3,057/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$3,057
$63,985 vs $60,928/yr
Dallas
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
44% lower
365.8 vs 658.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$106k less
$164,400 vs $270,700
Laredo
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 96.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.0% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Dallas 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 Dallas to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($63,985 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Laredo, TX are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.