Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Rockford
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 29°F
Households earn $10,184 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($114,100 vs $164,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Laredo by $10,184/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 90.1 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$10,184
$60,928 vs $50,744/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
66% lower
365.8 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Laredo
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.0% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Median Home Value
$50k less
$114,100 vs $164,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 90.1 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 7.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 38.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 148,173 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 24.5% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 16 and Rockford wins 7. 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $114,100 median home), income ($60,928 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Rockford, IL are about 1,173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.