Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Orem, UT
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($164,400 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($968 vs $1,290)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orem by $16,640/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Orem, UT
Pros
52% less violent crime than Laredo
Households earn $16,640 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Laredo
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$229k less
$164,400 vs $392,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 92.5°F
Orem
Median Income
$16,640
$77,568 vs $60,928/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
52% lower
174.5 vs 365.8 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Orem, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $392,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,290 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $77,568 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 53 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 42.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Alpine District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 37.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 44.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 97,100 |
| Median Age | 29.3 ✓ Older | 26.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 59.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 27.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Orem's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 11 and Orem wins 12. 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 Orem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $392,900 median home), income ($60,928 vs $77,568), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Orem, UT are about 1,122 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.