Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Plano 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
Plano
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $248k less ($164,400 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $731/mo less ($968 vs $1,699)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 56°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $44,751/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.4%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $44,751 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$248k less
$164,400 vs $412,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 94.3°F
Plano
Median Income
$44,751
$105,679 vs $60,928/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
59% lower
151.6 vs 365.8 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 38.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 11 and Plano 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 Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $412,500 median home), income ($60,928 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Plano, TX are about 413 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.