Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Salt Lake City, UT
🏆 Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Salt Lake City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High
Population
201,269
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $294k less ($164,400 vs $458,600)
58% less violent crime than Salt Lake City
Rent averages $286/mo less ($968 vs $1,254)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 40°F
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $11,429/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.6%)
Households earn $11,429 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Laredo
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
58% lower
365.8 vs 864.2 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$294k less
$164,400 vs $458,600
Laredo
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 91.4°F
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$11,429
$72,357 vs $60,928/yr
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Salt Lake City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 97.7 |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $458,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,254 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $72,357 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.6% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 227⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 50.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Salt Lake District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 91.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 49.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 201,269 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 32.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 47.0% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Salt Lake City's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 13 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 13 and Salt Lake City wins 10. 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 Salt Lake City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $458,600 median home), income ($60,928 vs $72,357), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Salt Lake City, UT are about 1,155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.