Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Mobile, AL
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Mobile
Alabama
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.4
Median Household Income
$48,524
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
186,316
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Mobile
Households earn $12,404 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Mobile, AL
Pros
More college-educated — 30.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Laredo by $12,404/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 89.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$12,404
$60,928 vs $48,524/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
51% lower
365.8 vs 752.0 per 100k
Laredo
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.5% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Mobile, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 89.4 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 | $158,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $985 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $48,524 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 30.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Mobile County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 68.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 186,316 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 50.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Mobile's 89.4 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 16 and Mobile wins 7. 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 Mobile or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $158,400 median home), income ($60,928 vs $48,524), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Mobile, AL are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.