Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $261k less ($164,400 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $580/mo less ($968 vs $1,548)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Meridian
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $32,368/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 2.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Meridian, ID
Pros
60% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $32,368 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$261k less
$164,400 vs $425,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.7°F
Meridian
Median Income
$32,368
$93,296 vs $60,928/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
60% lower
146.8 vs 365.8 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
2.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 27.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 10 and Meridian 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 Laredo to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $425,800 median home), income ($60,928 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Meridian, ID are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.