Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Ontario, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $349k less ($164,400 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $858/mo less ($968 vs $1,826)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Commutes run 10 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 Ontario by $17,142/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Ontario, CA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $17,142 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Laredo
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$349k less
$164,400 vs $513,000
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 93.8°F
Ontario
Median Income
$17,142
$78,070 vs $60,928/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
26% lower
272.2 vs 365.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Ontario, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $78,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 6.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 76.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 67.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 176,326 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 32.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Ontario's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Ontario wins 10. 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $513,000 median home), income ($60,928 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Ontario, CA are about 1,162 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.