Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High
Population
924,663 ✓ 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.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
Households earn $11,798 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.3%)
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($164,400 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $345/mo less ($968 vs $1,313)
20% less violent crime than Fort Worth
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Fort Worth by $11,798/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$11,798
$72,726 vs $60,928/yr
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
20% lower
365.8 vs 458.4 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$86k less
$164,400 vs $250,300
Laredo
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 96.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 33.2 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.8% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.1% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Worth 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 Fort Worth to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $164,400 median home), income ($72,726 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Laredo, TX are about 383 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.