Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 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
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
60% less violent crime than Philadelphia
Homes cost $51k less ($164,400 vs $215,500)
Rent averages $282/mo less ($968 vs $1,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
More college-educated — 33.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$3,391
$60,928 vs $57,537/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
60% lower
365.8 vs 908.7 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$51k less
$164,400 vs $215,500
Laredo
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $215,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 230⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 239⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 33.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 86.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 50.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 15 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 15 and Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $215,500 median home), income ($60,928 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,634 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.