Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ 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.
Durham, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $13,782 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $152k less ($164,400 vs $316,600)
41% less violent crime than Durham
Rent averages $328/mo less ($968 vs $1,296)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $13,782/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$13,782
$74,710 vs $60,928/yr
Durham
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
41% lower
365.8 vs 619.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$152k less
$164,400 vs $316,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 87.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Durham 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 Durham to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($74,710 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Laredo, TX are about 1,338 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.