Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Laredo, TX
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Shreveport
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Laredo, TX
Pros
70% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $14,961 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 58°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
More college-educated — 26.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 100°F
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Laredo by $14,961/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Laredo
Median Income
$14,961
$60,928 vs $45,967/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
70% lower
365.8 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Laredo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.9% vs 9.2% unemployment
Laredo
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 94.3°F
Shreveport
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 87.8 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Laredo, TX | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.8 | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $164,400 ✓ Lower | $168,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $968 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,928 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.3 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 86 ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.1% | 26.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.7% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | UNITED ISD | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 255,293 ✓ Larger | 186,183 |
| Median Age | 29.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.7% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 31.8% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 9.6% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Laredo's cost of living index is 87.8 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Laredo wins 14 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($164,400 vs $168,900 median home), income ($60,928 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Laredo, TX and Shreveport, LA are about 481 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.