Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($164,400 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $657/mo less ($968 vs $1,625)
34% less violent crime than Palmdale
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Palmdale by $17,486/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,486 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
34% lower
365.8 vs 551.0 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$233k less
$164,400 vs $397,500
Laredo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$17,486
$78,414 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Palmdale, 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 | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 97.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 29.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 15 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $397,500 median home), income ($60,928 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Palmdale, CA are about 1,202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.