Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
North Charleston, SC
🏆 Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
North Charleston
South Carolina
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.2
Median Household Income
$58,534
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
115,755
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 North Charleston
Homes cost $79k less ($164,400 vs $243,300)
Rent averages $320/mo less ($968 vs $1,288)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than North Charleston
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.3%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
North Charleston, SC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (810.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3955.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 98.2 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$2,394
$60,928 vs $58,534/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
55% lower
365.8 vs 810.5 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$79k less
$164,400 vs $243,300
Laredo
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 91.3°F
North Charleston
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | North Charleston, SC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.2 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,288 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $58,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 203⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Charleston 01 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 53.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 115,755 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs North Charleston's 98.2 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 15 and North Charleston wins 8. 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 North Charleston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $243,300 median home), income ($60,928 vs $58,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and North Charleston, SC are about 1,215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.