Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Santa Clara leads 12 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1276k less ($164,400 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1873/mo less ($968 vs $2,841)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 60°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $104,424/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $104,424 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Laredo
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$1276k less
$164,400 vs $1,440,200
Laredo
Summer Heat
19.5°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$104,424
$165,352 vs $60,928/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
50% lower
182.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Santa Clara
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 15.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 11.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Santa Clara leads 12 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 11 and Santa Clara wins 12. 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 Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($60,928 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Santa Clara, CA are about 1,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.