Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
12
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $24,925 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $376k less ($164,400 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $697/mo less ($968 vs $1,665)
63% less violent crime than Denver
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $24,925/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$24,925
$85,853 vs $60,928/yr
Denver
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
63% lower
365.8 vs 993.0 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$376k less
$164,400 vs $540,400
Laredo
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Denver wins 11 and Laredo wins 12. 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 Denver to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Laredo, TX are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.