Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Lubbock, TX
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Lubbock
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lubbock
Rent averages $125/mo less ($968 vs $1,093)
Homes cost $17k less ($164,400 vs $181,600)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 55°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Lubbock
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Lubbock, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$2,194
$60,928 vs $58,734/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
55% lower
365.8 vs 821.0 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$17k less
$164,400 vs $181,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.7°F
Lubbock
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Lubbock, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $181,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,093 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $58,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 34.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 88.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | LUBBOCK ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 20.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 7.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 258,190 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 30.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 51.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Lubbock's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Lubbock wins 10. 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 Laredo to Lubbock or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $181,600 median home), income ($60,928 vs $58,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Lubbock, TX are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.