Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Laredo
Texas
16
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.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($86,200 vs $164,400)
Rent averages $138/mo less ($830 vs $968)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Laredo by $19,485/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.9%)
Laredo, TX
Pros
73% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $19,485 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Dayton
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$78k less
$86,200 vs $164,400
Laredo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$19,485
$60,928 vs $41,443/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
73% lower
365.8 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Laredo
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.0% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
13.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $968 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 21.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Laredo wins 16. 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 Dayton to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($41,443 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Laredo, TX are about 1,216 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.