Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293
Sacramento
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $286k less ($164,400 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $624/mo less ($968 vs $1,592)
52% less violent crime than Sacramento
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $18,026/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Households earn $18,026 more per year on average
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
52% lower
365.8 vs 754.9 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$286k less
$164,400 vs $450,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 94.4°F
Sacramento
Median Income
$18,026
$78,954 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 56.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 20.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 14 and Sacramento 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $450,500 median home), income ($60,928 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Sacramento, CA are about 1,477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.