Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High
Population
213,164
Laredo
Texas
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
48% less violent crime than Des Moines
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$1,450
$62,378 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
48% lower
365.8 vs 703.0 per 100k
Laredo
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 9 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 Des Moines to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $164,400 median home), income ($62,378 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Laredo, TX are about 1,024 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.