Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Santa Monica, 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 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $1490k less ($164,400 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $1259/mo less ($968 vs $2,227)
53% less violent crime than Santa Monica
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $45,869/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $45,869 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Violent Crime
53% lower
365.8 vs 778.0 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$1490k less
$164,400 vs $1,654,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
30.9°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$45,869
$106,797 vs $60,928/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 25.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 14 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($60,928 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Santa Monica, CA are about 1,211 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.