Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Laredo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Laredo
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Laredo, TX
Pros
68% less violent crime than Houston
Homes cost $71k less ($164,400 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($968 vs $1,235)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
68% lower
365.8 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$164,400 vs $235,000
Laredo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 93.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 255,293 |
| Median Age | 33.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories. Houston wins 8 and Laredo wins 15. 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 Houston to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $164,400 median home), income ($60,440 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Laredo, TX are about 292 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.