Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($164,400 vs $312,300)
37% less violent crime than Newark
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.8 pts lower (5.9%)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Newark
Rent averages $305/mo less ($968 vs $1,273)
Households earn $14,468 more per year on average
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Newark, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $312,300
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Median income trails Laredo by $14,468/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$14,468
$60,928 vs $46,460/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
37% lower
365.8 vs 581.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$148k less
$164,400 vs $312,300
Laredo
Unemployment
4.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 10.7% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $312,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,273 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (85) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 77.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 17 and Newark wins 6. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $312,300 median home), income ($60,928 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Newark, NJ are about 1,700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.