Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 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
Providence
Rhode Island
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $129k less ($164,400 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $246/mo less ($968 vs $1,214)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 38°F
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Providence, RI
Pros
24% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 34.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Laredo
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$129k less
$164,400 vs $293,000
Laredo
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.2% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Violent Crime
24% lower
276.7 vs 365.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 82.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 189,715 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 32.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Providence 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $293,000 median home), income ($60,928 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Providence, RI are about 1,862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.