Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 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
Seattle
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $716k less ($164,400 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $977/mo less ($968 vs $1,945)
53% less violent crime than Seattle
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 47°F
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $55,140/yr
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.2%)
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $55,140 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 100°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Laredo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) 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
53% lower
365.8 vs 775.1 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$716k less
$164,400 vs $879,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
23.8°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$55,140
$116,068 vs $60,928/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 47.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 38.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 3.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 14 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $879,900 median home), income ($60,928 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Seattle, WA are about 1,853 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.