Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
85% less violent crime than Laredo
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 68°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Laredo
Median income trails Laredo by $2,638/yr
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $43k less ($164,400 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $249/mo less ($968 vs $1,217)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,638 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Violent Crime
85% lower
56.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Laredo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$2,638
$60,928 vs $58,290/yr
Laredo
Median Home Value
$43k less
$164,400 vs $207,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 68.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 12 of 23 categories. Lakeland wins 12 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 Lakeland to Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,290 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Laredo, TX are about 1,071 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.