Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $412k less ($164,400 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $896/mo less ($968 vs $1,864)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $31,364/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Renton, WA
Pros
Households earn $31,364 more per year on average
7% less violent crime than Laredo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 36.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$412k less
$164,400 vs $576,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$31,364
$92,292 vs $60,928/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
7% lower
339.2 vs 365.8 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 36.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 89.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 14 and Renton wins 9. 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $576,800 median home), income ($60,928 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Renton, WA are about 1,842 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.