Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories
Hemet
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
Laredo
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
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.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 95°F vs 100°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Laredo
Median income trails Laredo by $11,027/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.9%)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($164,400 vs $277,200)
Rent averages $389/mo less ($968 vs $1,357)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (5.9%)
14% less violent crime than Hemet
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Hemet
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$11,027
$60,928 vs $49,901/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
14% lower
365.8 vs 424.8 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$113k less
$164,400 vs $277,200
Laredo
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.5% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
5.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 95.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 21.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories. Hemet wins 6 and Laredo wins 17. 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 Hemet to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($49,901 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,123 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.