Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169
Laredo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $26,038 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($164,400 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $774/mo less ($968 vs $1,742)
25% less violent crime than Kent
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $26,038/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$26,038
$86,966 vs $60,928/yr
Laredo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
25% lower
365.8 vs 489.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$314k less
$164,400 vs $478,400
Laredo
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.6% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
22.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Kent wins 7 and Laredo wins 16. 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 Kent to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $164,400 median home), income ($86,966 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Laredo, TX are about 1,838 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.