Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Edinburg, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories
Edinburg
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,139
Violent Crime Index
71 ✓ Safer
Population
100,964
Laredo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Edinburg, TX
Pros
26% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 28.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Laredo
Cons
Median income trails Laredo by $6,789/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $6,789 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Edinburg
Key Differences at a Glance
Edinburg
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 87.8 (100 = US avg)
Edinburg
Violent Crime
26% lower
269.6 vs 365.8 per 100k
Laredo
Median Income
$6,789
$60,928 vs $54,139/yr
Laredo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 96.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Edinburg, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 87.8 |
| Median Home Value | $159,600 ✓ Lower | $164,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $920 ✓ Lower | $968 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,139 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.8 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 76 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.8% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EDINBURG CISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.2°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.7°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.0" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,964 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.7% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.5% | 9.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Edinburg's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Edinburg is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Edinburg leads 13 of 23 categories. Edinburg wins 13 and Laredo wins 10. 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 Edinburg to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,600 vs $164,400 median home), income ($54,139 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Edinburg, TX and Laredo, TX are about 118 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.