Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Salem
Oregon
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $185k less ($164,400 vs $349,500)
31% less violent crime than Salem
Rent averages $256/mo less ($968 vs $1,224)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Salem by $6,612/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Salem, OR
Pros
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,612 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Laredo
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
31% lower
365.8 vs 532.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$185k less
$164,400 vs $349,500
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$6,612
$67,540 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 175,754 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 16 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 16 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $349,500 median home), income ($60,928 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Salem, OR are about 1,765 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.