Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Salinas, CA
🏆 Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Salinas
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,250 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
162,783
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $409k less ($164,400 vs $573,600)
Rent averages $827/mo less ($968 vs $1,795)
30% less violent crime than Salinas
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Salinas
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 21.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Salinas by $23,322/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 5.0%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Salinas, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,322 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 100°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $573,600
Higher rents — median is $1,795/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (524.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
30% lower
365.8 vs 524.5 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$409k less
$164,400 vs $573,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
29.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 70.7°F
Salinas
Median Income
$23,322
$84,250 vs $60,928/yr
Salinas
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Salinas, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $573,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,795⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $84,250 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 3.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) ✓ Better | C- (57) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% ✓ Higher | 15.0% |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% ✓ Higher | 62.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Alisal Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 70.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 162,783 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 31.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 47.1% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 29.9% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 9.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Salinas's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 17 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 17 and Salinas wins 6. 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 Salinas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $573,600 median home), income ($60,928 vs $84,250), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Salinas, CA are about 1,436 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.