Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Norwalk, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Norwalk
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
101,893
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($164,400 vs $593,100)
Rent averages $892/mo less ($968 vs $1,860)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Norwalk
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $30,331/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Norwalk, CA
Pros
Households earn $30,331 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $593,100
Higher rents — median is $1,860/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$429k less
$164,400 vs $593,100
Laredo
Summer Heat
15.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 84.4°F
Norwalk
Median Income
$30,331
$91,259 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Norwalk, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $593,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,860⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $91,259 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 5.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 99 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (83) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 76.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Norwalk-La Mirada Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F | 68.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 15.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 101,893 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 67.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Norwalk's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 12 and Norwalk wins 11. 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 Norwalk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $593,100 median home), income ($60,928 vs $91,259), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Norwalk, CA are about 1,186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.