Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Indio
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
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.
Indio, CA
Pros
8% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $7,508 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher rents — median is $1,344/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Laredo
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 5.9%)
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($164,400 vs $373,200)
Rent averages $376/mo less ($968 vs $1,344)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 100°F vs 106°F
Cons
Median income trails Indio by $7,508/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Median Income
$7,508
$68,436 vs $60,928/yr
Indio
Violent Crime
8% lower
336.2 vs 365.8 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 100.3°F
Laredo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$209k less
$164,400 vs $373,200
Laredo
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 4.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 21.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 100.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 19.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Indio wins 11 and Laredo wins 11. 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 Indio to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $164,400 median home), income ($68,436 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Laredo, TX are about 1,081 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.