Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962
Laredo
Texas
13
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.
Irving, TX
Pros
25% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $15,758 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $95k less ($164,400 vs $259,500)
Rent averages $455/mo less ($968 vs $1,423)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 57°F
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $15,758/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$15,758
$76,686 vs $60,928/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
25% lower
275.4 vs 365.8 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$95k less
$164,400 vs $259,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 95.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 9.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving'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. Irving 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 Irving to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $164,400 median home), income ($76,686 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Laredo, TX are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.